Dow Jones and S&P500: US Indices Climb as Markets Digest Mixed Employment Data

• December payrolls rose by 50,000, below the 73,000 forecast, but unemployment fell to 4.4% from 4.6%, signaling steady economic growth
• S&P 500 futures traded near all-time high of 7014 with key uptrend support at 6907, maintained since November 21
• Utilities sector led gains with 1.88% jump, driven by nuclear power companies Vistra and Oklo surging 15% and 18% after securing a deal with Meta for AI power supply

Market Summary: US Indices Rise on Mixed Employment Data

Market Performance:

U.S. stock indices posted gains on Friday, January 9, 2026, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average up 0.11% to 49,322.23, the S&P 500 rising 0.27% to 6,940.19, and the Nasdaq Composite advancing 0.29% to 23,549.06. For the week, the Dow led with 2.1% gains, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq gained 1% and 1.1% respectively. The S&P 500 futures approached an all-time high of 7,014, supported by an uptrend line at 6,907.

Employment Data:

December payrolls increased by 50,000, missing the 73,000 forecast but still indicating steady growth. The unemployment rate improved to 4.4% from November's 4.6%, beating the expected 4.5%. Analysts suggest this mixed report provides little clarity on labor market conditions and will likely keep the Federal Reserve on hold pending further data.

Sector Performance:

Nine of 11 sectors traded higher, with Utilities leading at +1.88%, followed by Materials (+0.86%) and Industrials (+0.84%). Energy gained 0.55%, while Technology slightly declined 0.05%.

Individual Movers:

Nuclear power companies Vistra and Oklo surged 15% and 18% respectively after securing a deal to supply power for Meta's AI projects.

Other Developments:

The U.S. Supreme Court delayed its ruling on Trump tariffs, which could significantly impact trade policy and fiscal conditions.

Technical Outlook:

Key support for S&P 500 futures remains at the 6,907.50 uptrend line established November 21, with the 50-day moving average at 6,885 providing secondary support.