U.S. Stock Market Live Updates: Jobs Report, Fed Chair Powell’s Speech, and Trade Policy Impact

Broadcom (AVGO) shares jumped over 11% in premarket trading after the company issued a strong second-quarter sales forecast, signaling continued demand for AI chips. This positive outlook comes as a relief to investors, especially after recent concerns over semiconductor stocks following weaker earnings from other chipmakers.

Broadcom’s optimistic forecast has helped ease fears about the AI market, reinforcing confidence in the growing demand for advanced chips. Investors see this as a sign that AI-related technology remains a strong driver of growth in the industry.

Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) shares surged nearly 7% in premarket trading after announcing plans to go private. The pharmacy giant has officially secured a deal with Sycamore, valued at up to $23.7 billion, marking the end of months of negotiations.

The move signals a major shift for Walgreens, as it transitions away from the public markets. Investors reacted positively to the news, seeing it as a strategic step that could bring renewed focus and financial stability to the company’s operations.

The U.S. labor market showed signs of slowing in February, with employers adding 151,000 jobs—falling short of the 160,000 projected by economists. At the same time, the unemployment rate edged up to 4.1%, its highest level in nearly two years, signaling potential cracks in the job market.

The latest data follows a downward revision of January’s job gains, which were adjusted from 143,000 to 125,000. This back-to-back slowdown in hiring has raised fresh concerns about economic momentum, as businesses navigate rising costs, shifting consumer demand, and uncertainty surrounding Federal Reserve policy.

While job growth remains positive, the pace of hiring is clearly moderating. This could influence the Fed’s decision-making in the coming months, particularly as speculation grows over potential interest rate cuts. Investors and policymakers will be closely watching upcoming economic indicators to gauge whether this slowdown is temporary or the start of a broader labor market cooldown.

Stocks are on track for their worst week in months, with major indexes facing sharp declines as investor worries grow.

So far this week, the Nasdaq Composite has dropped 4.1%, making it the biggest loser among the three indexes. The Dow Jones Industrial Average has fallen 2.9%, while the S&P 500 is down 3.6%.

With just one trading day left, uncertainty around the economy, Federal Reserve policies, and trade tensions continue to weigh on the market. If losses hold, this will mark the worst week for stocks since September, adding to concerns about what’s next for Wall Street.

The stock market opened in negative territory on Friday, extending a tough week for investors.

The S&P 500 slipped 0.2%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.4%. The Nasdaq Composite saw a smaller decline, edging down 0.1%.

With markets struggling to gain momentum, investors remain cautious amid economic uncertainty and ongoing volatility.

The construction industry saw a boost in hiring last month, even as unemployment within the sector edged higher—a sign that labor supply is keeping up with demand.

According to the latest Labor Department report, construction companies added 19,000 jobs in February, a notable jump from the modest 4,000 jobs gained in January. This marks the strongest hiring month for the industry since the third quarter of 2024.

However, the construction unemployment rate also climbed to 7.2%, significantly higher than the overall national rate of 4.1%. 

This suggests that while job opportunities are growing, more workers are entering the labor market, helping to meet demand.

Some experts warn that potential cuts in government jobs and spending could eventually impact construction hiring, but those effects have not yet shown up in the latest employment data. For now, the industry continues to expand, supported by strong labor availability.