- U.S. stock futures rose on Friday following a better-than-expected April’s
jobs report and as traders eyed developments between the U.S. and Iran.
- Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 last
month, more than the 55,000 that economists polled by Dow Jones were expecting.
The U.S. jobless rate also held steady at 4.3%, in line with expectations.
- U.S. Central Command said that military forces “intercepted unprovoked Iranian
attacks and responded with self-defense strikes” as a trio of U.S. Navy
destroyers transited the waterway.
- Trump said there was “no damage done to the three Destroyers, but great damage
done to the Iranian attackers.” He also reportedly said that the ceasefire is
still in effect, saying the strikes against Iranian targets were “just a love
tap.”
- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters Friday that the U.S.
“should know something today” regarding a response from Iran on the peace
proposal.
- A senior Iranian official said that the country would not allow the U.S. to
reopen the Strait of Hormuz passageway with an “unrealistic plan”
- Upbeat tech earnings have put the Nasdaq on pace to climb 2.8% on the week.
The S&P 500 is on track for a rise of 1.5%, while the Dow Jones has lagged with
a week-to-date gain of just 0.2%
- Asia-Pacific markets mostly traded lower Friday, as concerns grew over renewed
hostilities between Iran and the U.S. amid a fragile fire.
