The U.S. labor market ended 2024 on a high note, with employers adding 256,000 jobs in December. This exceeded expectations and reflected confidence in economic stability. The unemployment rate dropped to 4.

Wall Street's fear gauge hit a three-week high on Friday. A Labor Department report showed job growth unexpectedly accelerated in December while the unemployment rate fell to 4.1% as the labor market ended the year on a strong note. A hotter-than-expected ...

U.S. stock indexes held firmer and finished mixed a day after strong reports on the economy stirred up worries that inflation and interest rates may remain higher than expected.

Wall Street wiped out its entire post-election rally this week as mounting interest-rate fears were stoked by a red-hot labor market, surging inflation expectations and escalating geopolitical tensions ahead of Donald Trump‘s return to the White House.

Jobs data for December will add to ongoing mixed signals in the U.S. labor market. Analysts surveyed by Dow Jones expect 155,000 jobs added on the month, down from 227,000 in November, with the unemployment rate expected to have remained unchanged at 4.

U.S. stocks tumbled, with the S&P 500 erasing its 2025 gains, after an upbeat jobs report stoked fresh inflation fears and reinforced bets that the Federal Reserve will be cautious in cutting interest rates this year.

Wall Street is drifting and making smaller moves on Wednesday, a day after strong reports on the economy stirred up worries that inflation and interest rates may stay higher than expected.

Wall Street is drifting and making smaller moves on Wednesday, a day after strong reports on the economy stirred up worries that inflation and interest rates may stay higher than expected. The S&P 500 was edging down by 0.

The S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average were down Wednesday morning while the Nasdaq composite was slightly up.

Government agencies that shrank in President-elect Trump’s first term have mostly bounced back, and some have become even larger.

U.S. stock indexes are rallying toward the close of their best week in two months. The S&P 500 rose 1.1% Friday.

After a long and successful private-sector career, I came to Washington—and it made me more humble.