EQUITY MARKETS

US

S&P500 +0.35%(2,651.50); NASDAQ -0.11% (6,840.08); DJIA +0.40% (24,329.16)

This week’s reports:

November’s Unemployment Rate remained unchanged from October’s 4.1%. Non-Farm Payrolls rose by 288K from October’s +244K. Labor Force Participation Rate remained unchanged at 62.7%.
November’s Average Hourly Earnings rose 0.2% from October’s zero change. Average Weekly Hours rose to 34.5 from October’s 34.4.
Q3 2017 Unit Labor Costs fell 0.2% from Q2’s +0.5%. Non-farm Productivity rose 3.0%, the same increase as in Q2.
November’s Markit Services PMI fell to 54.5 from October’s 54.7. Composite PMI fell to 54.5 from October’s 54.6.
November’s ISM Non-Manufacturing Index fell to 57.4 from October’s 60.1.
October’s Factory Orders fell 0.1% from September’s +1.7%.
October’s Consumer Credit rose by $20.52B from September’s +$19.21B. The increase was led by a surge in revolving credit.
December’s Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index (prelim.) fell to 96.8 from November’s 98.5.
Initial Jobless Claims for the week ending December 1^st fell by 2K to 236K. Continuing Jobless Claims for the week ending November 24^th fell by 52K to 1,908K.

US stocks climbed to records as the latest jobs report bolstered optimism in the world’s largest economy. The S&P 500 Index and Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at all-time highs in light volume after data showed hiring increased by more than forecast in November and the unemployment rate held at a 17-year low.