Stocks closed Friday mostly flat as the week long post-election rally came to an end. Market participants were looking for direction as the ultimate result of the U.S. presidential election is still unknown. However, sentiment was encouraged by better-than-expected U.S. October jobs data.
As the Wall Street tends to do, market indices ended the week higher following an extended post-election rally. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq jumped 7.3% and 9%, respectively, as investors poured cash into stocks. The Dow Jones also gained 6.9% this week, as all three market benchmarks saw their best weekly gains since April. Moreover, the S&P posted its best election week gain since 1932.
For now, investors are betting that Democratic challenger Joe Biden will become the next president of the United States, while Republicans will remain in control of the Senate and Democrats the House. This type of legislative power dynamic may harm Biden's political agenda and keep coronavirus fiscal stimulus spending at the minimum.
Meanwhile, the U.S. added 638,000 jobs in October, soaring above economist expectations, bringing the unemployment rate to 6.9%. The numbers compare to 661,000 jobs created in September and an unemployment rate of 7.9%.
Here's how the market settled to close out the week:
S&P 500 Index
Dow Jones Industrial Average
Nasdaq Composite Index
For Major Stocks News, T-Mobile
For Sector Performance, sectors on the S&P ended Friday's session mixed as the market looked for direction amid uncertain presidential election results. Consumer Staples
For Commodities and Currency, the U.S. Dollar
For the week ahead, market participants will react to developing election news over the weekend.