Well, Friday’s job report brought some surprises…
The U.S. labor market showed far more resilience than expected. The Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed 256,000 new jobs were created in December, well above the 165,000 forecast by economists, and a significant jump from November’s 212,000.
The unemployment rate also fell to 4.1%, down from 4.2% the previous month, marking a strong close to 2024. In fact, revisions to prior data showed the labor market has been stronger than initially thought. July’s cycle-high unemployment rate was revised down to 4.2%, painting a picture of steady strength.
All this robust jobs data is a double-edged sword, though…
On one hand, it shows the power of the U.S. economy, which of course sounds great… in theory.
But it also pushes back the timeline for the Fed to cut rates. Before the report, traders were betting on a rate cut as early as May. Now, expectations have shifted to June, according to the CME FedWatch Tool.
The market’s response was immediate…
Futures for the Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq all dropped nearly 1% in pre-market trading, reflecting concerns that higher-for-longer rates could weigh on growth stocks and broader market sentiment.
While the jobs data highlights economic strength, it also sets the stage for continued uncertainty around Fed policy and market performance. For us, this serves as a reminder to stay nimble as we navigate these evolving conditions.
My Apex Indicator META Signal
We’ve seen examples of uncertainty on our Apex charts, as we discussed a bit yesterday when I gave a free trade idea.
Back during the week of Dec. 2, we saw an entry signal (blue up arrow) on Meta Platforms (META). The momentum looked good and everything seemed positive.
But the market has struggled since, and we’re obviously seeing a lot of bearishness today after the labor report.
However, if META can hold its position in its current sideways channel, we could see another signal and big move up.
Overall, we’re looking for an entry signal when price closes above $632.10.
If we do get that entry, the target would be up at $667.43 and the stop would be down at $499.02.
The market has been volatile so far this year.
But that just means more opportunities will set up soon!
If you want more info on my Apex Indicator, just go here!
Graham Lindman
Graham Lindman Trading
Follow along and join the conversation for real-time analysis, trade ideas, market insights and more!
- Telegram: https://t.me/+abM5RWRJKrpkNWI5
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FinancialWars
Important Note: No one from the ProsperityPub team or Graham Lindman Trading will ever contact you directly on Telegram.
*This is for informational and educational purposes only. There is inherent risk in trading, so trade at your own risk.
P.S. Using a Setup That Hit a 92% Accuracy!
The year has started fully and now is the best time to know exactly how you can target massive opportunities in the markets.
Kane Shieh just picked out the next stock he’s trading in 2025 – using the same method that/s shown 92% accuracy across LIVE trades.
It’s a brand-new year and you don’t have to start trading cluelessly! In fact, you could start taking your shots at weekly opportunities with a method that has shown the power to pay consistently – with a 92% accuracy.
Tired of settling for measly gains in 2025?
You don’t need to sweat it. with a special method that has shown the power to pay out every week – with a 92% win rate on LIVE trades – all you need to do is watch this breakdown to see how you can start taking a shot at weekly payouts in the new year!
