Futures tied to the three major US stock indexes slipped about 0.2% on Friday in muted trading, with cash markets closed for the Easter holiday, as investors weighed a stronger-than-expected US jobs report alongside escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The US economy added 178,000 jobs in March, almost triple the consensus forecast of 60,000. The unemployment rate edged down to 4.3%, while wage growth moderated. Taken together, the figures bolstered expectations that the Federal Reserve will keep the federal funds rate unchanged for the remainder of the year.
Geopolitical risks also remained in focus. US President Trump sharpened his rhetoric toward Iran, threatening strikes on key infrastructure, including bridges and power plants, while Iran reportedly carried out additional attacks on targets in Arab Gulf states.
Despite the cautious tone at the end of the week, the major US equity benchmarks finished higher overall. The S&P 500 gained 3.4%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced nearly 3%, and the Nasdaq Composite surged 4.4%.
