Global stocks advanced as investors raised their bets on a potential US interest rate cut this month after strong job growth in November. The euro dipped against the dollar as political turmoil gripped France. Futures markets put an 85% chance on the US Federal Reserve cutting rates by 25 basis points at its December 17-18 meeting.
Nonfarm payrolls increased by 227,000 jobs last month, exceeding economists’ forecasts. The Dow and Nasdaq rose, while the S&P 500 was little changed. Treasury yields dipped to a six-week low after the release of the payrolls data.
European shares eked out gains, with French stocks logging their biggest daily rise in three weeks as investors factored in a potential budget despite ongoing political uncertainty. The pan-European STOXX 600 index was up 0.2%, logging its seventh consecutive day in advances.
In Asia, MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan reversed earlier losses to be up 0.2% thanks to a rally in Chinese shares. Chinese shares had climbed to three-week highs as investors scooped up technology shares ahead of a top-level policy meeting next week.
Bitcoin prices initially ran into profit-taking after hitting the $100,000 mark for the first time on Thursday, but then rebounded to last trade up 2.3% on the day around $101,300.
Oil prices fell around 1.5% and were headed for weekly losses as analysts projected a supply surplus next year on floundering demand. Gold prices inched up to $2,632 an ounce.