Market Overview

Despite a weaker-than-expected jobs report, major U.S. stock markets opened mostly flat on Friday. Investors are closely monitoring the economic indicators for signs of recovery or further slowdown.

Employment Figures Disappoint

The Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that nonfarm payrolls increased by 143,000 in January, missing projections. The unemployment rate slightly decreased to 4%, with 6.8 million people unemployed.

Market Reactions

The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 remained flat, while the Nasdaq 100 saw a modest gain. TakeTwo Interactive Software Inc. and Fortinet Inc. were among the top gainers.

Currency Movements

The euro experienced a slight decline against the dollar, trading at $1.03783 by late afternoon.