US Stocks fell Friday as Treasury yields jumped following the release of stronger-than-expected U.S. jobs data.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 98 points, or 0.3%. The S&P 500 pulled back by 0.5%, and the Nasdaq Composite lost 0.6%.
The U.S. economy added 336,000 jobs in September, the Labor Department said. Economists polled by Dow Jones expected 170,000 jobs. To be sure, wages rose less than expected last month.
The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield jumped more than 12 basis points on the back of the data to trade near a 16-year high set earlier this week. The 10-year Treasury yield was last up at 4.873%.
Friday’s jobs report raised concern among investors that the Federal Reserve will need to keep rates higher for longer to tame inflation.
“The 336K number is monstrous and means the Fed could easily go another 25bp and hold at an elevated level for an extended period,” Adam Crisafulli of Vital Knowledge said in a note. “Rates will face continued upside risks and so long as that happens, stocks don’t stand a chance.”
Several large-cap tech shares fell as yields climbed higher. Advanced Micro Devices, Nvidia and Meta Platforms shed more than 1% Friday before the bell. The utilities sector, which is sensitive to high rates, also declined. AES lost 3.5%, while NextEra Energy, Dominion Energy and Sempra shed 1% and more.