Market jitters were everywhere in the lead up the the release of the unemployment figures. With a print of 115k, it seems the jitters were justified as they missed expectations of 160k. The unemployment rate did drop to 8.1% as 350k people exited the labor pool. Currently the three major indexes are whipsawing on the news as investors digest the numbers.

The report shows that there is still a reluctance on hiring new workers. The drop in the unemployment rate is more of a smokescreen because of the way the BLS measures employment. 350k people giving up their search in the job market is not a good sign moving forward.

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Outside of the NFP numbers this big news that will come out of this weekend is the double elections in France and Greece. Both could have huge implications for EU and their current slate of rescue packages. The populace is getting restless with the continual austerity measures that have stunted growth across the region. French President Sarkozy is trailing the socialist candidate, Francois Hollande going into the weekend.

In commodities, oil and gold are diverging on how to treat the unemployment numbers. Oil prices continue to stay negative with Nymex crude futures down $1.47 to $101.07 per barrel.

Gold prices are turning higher on hopes that a softening labor market will force the Fed into reaction mode. Gold futures are up over $7 to $1,642 per ounce. [Read more...]