Global Markets Hold Steady Ahead of Crucial Jobs Report
Global stock markets closed June at record highs, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq leading the charge. Investors are positioning for potential rate cuts later this year, hinging on the upcoming June jobs report. A softer labor market could accelerate central bank action, with markets already pricing in a 93% chance of a September cut.
Central bankers gather in Sintra this week, debating inflation, trade tensions, and the timing of policy shifts. Fed Chair Jerome Powell maintains a patient stance, but dissent grows among officials. The jobs report may tip the scales—cooling wage growth and hiring could force their hand.