The S&P 500 opened in record territory on Friday, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average traded slightly lower after a weaker-than-expected U.S. jobs report reshaped expectations for Federal Reserve policy, according to Friday market data.
The benchmark S&P 500 gained about 0.5% to trade above its previous record closing high, while the Nasdaq Composite climbed roughly 1.1%. The Dow, meanwhile, slipped about 0.1% in morning trading as investors weighed signs of a cooling labor market against the prospect of lower interest rates.
Fresh employment figures showed the U.S. economy unexpectedly lost jobs in July, prompting Treasury yields to decline as traders reduced expectations for another near-term Federal Reserve rate increase. The softer data helped lift technology shares, while investors also looked ahead to upcoming inflation reports for further policy clues.
Despite the Dow's modest decline, broader market sentiment remained constructive, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq supported by falling bond yields and continued optimism surrounding large-cap technology stocks.