S&P500

Update on US stock market: uptrend still going on

Snapshot of major US indices on Friday:

• Dow +1.4%
• NASDAQ +1.5%
• S&P 500 +1.5%
• S&P 500 closed at 5,686, trading within a range of 5,150 to 5,800.

The stock market ended the week on a strong note. The S&P 500 recorded its ninth consecutive gain, rising 1.5% despite declines in Apple (AAPL 205.35, -7.97, -3.7%) and Amazon (AMZN 189.98, -0.22, -0.1%). The Nasdaq Composite was up more than 250 points from Thursday's close, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.4%.

The upbeat sentiment was driven by continued momentum and optimism around US-China trade, following signs that China may be open to negotiations with the US. Market participants also felt more confident about the economic outlook after a strong jobs report.

Nonfarm payrolls increased by 177,000, and the unemployment rate held steady at 4.2%. Some technical momentum also played its role, as the S&P 500 closed above its 50-day moving average (5,582) on Thursday.

Broad-based gains pushed all 11 S&P 500 sectors into positive territory. The communication services sector led the way, boosted by large-cap heavyweights. The financial sector followed, jumping 2.2%.

Treasuries ended the session with sharp losses. The yield on the 10-year note rose by 9 basis points to 4.32%. The 2-year yield climbed by 14 basis points to 3.84%.

Economic calendar on Friday:

* April Nonfarm Payrolls: +177K (consensus: +130K); previous revised from +228K to +185K

* April Private Sector Jobs: +167K (consensus: +125K); previous revised from +209K to +170K

* April Average Hourly Earnings: +0.2% (consensus: +0.3%); previous: +0.3%

* April Unemployment Rate: 4.2% (consensus: 4.2%); unchanged

* Average Workweek: 34.3 hours (consensus: 34.2); previous revised from 34.2 to 34.3

Key takeaway:

The labor market remained relatively stable in April, despite volatility stemming from tariffs and concerns about their impact on the economy. While risks remain, April data showed steady employment conditions.

March Factory Orders: +4.3% (consensus: +4.1%); previous revised from +0.6% to +0.5%

Key takeaway:

Headline numbers masked underlying weakness in factory orders, which were negative, excluding transportation.

Looking ahead:

On Monday, markets await the April ISM Services Index (previous: 50.8%), to be released at 10:00 AM ET.

Energy market Brent crude opened the week down around $2, at $59.50 per barrel. Oil prices slid following reports that OPEC plans to increase oil supply in June.

Conclusion Trump's trade war with China continues to cast a shadow over the global economy and markets. Still, US stock markets remain optimistic. Thus, for now, we'll hold onto our positions unless sentiment shifts.