Market Summary - January 9, 2026

Author: James Hyerczyk

Published: January 9, 2026, 15:31 GMT+00:00

Key Highlights

• S&P 500 futures are nearing an all-time high of 7014, with key support at 6907.
• December payrolls increased by 50,000, falling short of the 73,000 forecast, while the unemployment rate dropped to 4.4%.
• Dow Jones leads the weekly gains with a 2.1% increase, while S&P 500 and Nasdaq saw increases of 1% and 1.1%, respectively.

Market Overview

The major U.S. stock indexes opened higher on Friday, responding to a neutral jobs report and awaiting a potential Supreme Court decision on tariffs. As of 15:20 GMT, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was at 49,322.23, up 56.12 points (+0.11%), the S&P 500 Index was at 6,940.19, up 18.73 points (+0.27%), and the Nasdaq Composite was at 23,549.063, up 69.047 points (+0.29%).

Jobs Report Analysis

The December labor market report revealed a rise in nonfarm payrolls by 50,000, which was below the expected 73,000. Despite this shortfall, the unemployment rate decreased to 4.4%, down from 4.6% in November, indicating steady economic growth. This mixed report is likely to keep the Federal Reserve cautious as they monitor for further signs of labor market softening.

Supreme Court Tariff Ruling

The U.S. Supreme Court announced that there would be no ruling on the legality of President Trump's tariffs, which could have significant implications for trade policy and the U.S. fiscal situation.

Sector Performance

On Friday, nine out of eleven sectors were up, with Utilities leading the way with a 1.88% increase. Other notable sectors included Materials (0.86%) and Industrials (0.84%). Energy also performed well, rising by 0.55%, while the Technology sector faced challenges, dropping by 0.05% in early trading.

Individual Stock Movers

Several stocks outperformed the major indexes on Friday. Vistra and Oklo, both nuclear power companies, surged by 15% and 18%, respectively, after securing a deal to supply power for Meta’s AI projects. Intel's shares rose nearly 3% following a positive mention from President Trump. Conversely, General Motors saw a decline of 2% after announcing $7.1 billion in special charges related to restructuring in China and a pullback in electric vehicle demand.

Technical Analysis

The March E-mini S&P 500 Index futures are trending higher, approaching the all-time high of 7014.00 after recovering from a minor bottom at 6935.25. The first support level is the uptrend line at 6907.50, which has been guiding the market since November 21. A failure to maintain this support could lead to increased selling pressure, with the next downside target at the 50-day moving average of 6885.00.

Conclusion

The market is currently navigating mixed economic signals, with a focus on labor market data and potential tariff implications. Investors remain optimistic about future growth, despite the recent jobs report falling short of expectations.