Asia Mixed, Europe Market Gains In US Election Week; Crude Oil Up 2% - Global Markets Today While US Slept

On Friday, November 1st, U.S. markets closed higher, rebounding from Thursday’s drop as Amazon’s strong earnings provided a boost despite weak October job growth in the U.S.

Amazon’s solid retail sales helped offset investor worries, while Apple faced pressure due to declining China sales. Other tech giants, including Meta and Microsoft, had reported earnings with caution over AI infrastructure costs, impacting the Nasdaq earlier.

Economic data showed that the U.S. economy added 2,000 jobs, a notable drop from the revised 223,000 positions added in September and falling short of the anticipated 113,000. Average hourly wages rose by 0.4% to $35.46, while the unemployment rate held steady at 4.1%.

The majority of S&P 500 sectors ended down Friday, led by losses in utilities, energy, and real estate, while consumer discretionary and tech stocks closed higher.

The Dow Jones ...