US stocks experienced a notable increase on Friday as investors reacted to the December jobs report, concluding a busy first week of 2026. The S&P 500 gained approximately 0.6%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose around 0.5%, with both indexes nearing record closing highs. The Nasdaq Composite saw a more pronounced jump of 0.7%. Overall, all three major indices are on track to wrap up the first full trading week of the year with significant gains.
Attention turned to two primary market drivers: the December jobs report and the anticipated Supreme Court ruling regarding the legality of President Trump’s expansive tariffs. The nonfarm payrolls report indicated that the US economy added 50,000 jobs in December—falling short of economists’ expectations of 70,000. This has solidified predictions that the Federal Reserve will maintain interest rates during its upcoming meeting.
In addition to the job growth, the unemployment rate decreased from 4.6% in November to 4.4%, reflecting the labor market’s recent trend of stability, characterized by minimal hiring and firing.
Meanwhile, investors remained vigilant for a Supreme Court tariff decision, which could have widespread implications for US economic policy and global trade dynamics, but no ruling was issued on Friday.
On the geopolitical front, President Trump announced the cancellation of a planned second wave of attacks on Venezuela, citing positive cooperation from the interim government regarding the nation’s energy infrastructure. The White House organized a meeting with major oil companies to discuss the management of Venezuela’s substantial reserves.
Furthermore, Trump directed Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae to acquire $200 billion in mortgage-backed securities to help reduce mortgage rates amid rising affordability concerns. Market reactions to this initiative were measured, as investors awaited further details.
In commodities, gold and silver prices moved upward for the week, with gold rising 1% to settle above $4,500 and silver surging by 7%. These gains were partially attributed to initial market reactions following the US capturing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. Both precious metals experienced volatility, but gold saw an overall increase of more than 4% over the past five days, while silver jumped approximately 12%.
On the technology front, semiconductor stocks gained traction following announcements at CES in Las Vegas and Trump’s reaffirmation of his commitment to reinvigorate chip manufacturing domestically. Broadcom shares climbed 3.6%, Micron rose by 3.7%, and Intel experienced a substantial 7% increase. In contrast, Qualcomm faced a 2% decrease after earlier gains.
Adding to market dynamics, Intel’s stock prices spiked over 8% after Trump lauded CEO Lip-Bu Tan, reflecting a positive turn in relations following previous tensions. The US government’s stake in Intel, aimed at fostering domestic chip production, also contributed positively to share valuations.
In a significant development for the energy sector, Oklo shares soared by more than 13% following the company’s announcement of a deal to supply 1.2 gigawatts of power to Meta from its future nuclear reactors. This partnership solidified Oklo’s role in the emerging nuclear energy landscape, prompting other stocks within the sector to rise.
As the trading day began, US stocks opened higher, buoyed by the jobs report and the anticipation of the Supreme Court’s upcoming decisions. Futures for major indexes climbed as market sentiment turned optimistic regarding steady interest rates.
In summary, while the job market displayed mixed signals with fewer jobs added than expected, the drop in unemployment provided some reassurance. Simultaneously, broader economic strategies concerning tariffs, energy infrastructure in Venezuela, and domestic chip manufacturing continued to shape investor behavior as optimism prevailed in the markets.
