US Stocks Rally on Strong Jobs Data, Easing Recession Concerns

US equities surged as April jobs data exceeded expectations, dispelling near-term recession fears. The S&P 500 erased losses accumulated since early April, while the Nasdaq Composite extended its rebound with a 1.7% gain. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 552 points (1.3%) as labor market resilience overshadowed recent trade tensions.

Employers added 177,000 jobs last month, surpassing the 133,000 consensus estimate. Though down from March’s 228,000 reading, the figures demonstrated remarkable stability amid growing economic uncertainty. Unemployment held steady at 4.2%, reinforcing the Federal Reserve’s patient policy stance.

"Markets breathed a sigh of relief this morning," noted Chris Zaccarelli of Northlight Asset Management. The robust employment snapshot temporarily offset concerns about the inverted yield curve and slowing global growth. Risk assets across traditional and digital markets benefited from the improved sentiment.