U.S. Stocks Rise on Employment Data Impact
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Mar 17 2026
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Source: NASDAQ.COM
- Employment Data Impact: The ADP report indicates a mere 9,000 jobs added for the four weeks ending February 28, the lowest in five weeks, leading to a drop in the 10-year T-note yield to 4.20%, signaling a slowdown in the U.S. labor market that may influence Fed policy.
- Rising Oil Prices: Crude oil prices surged over 1% due to Iranian attacks on key energy infrastructure in the Middle East, potentially tightening global supply and impacting market sentiment and inflation expectations, especially ahead of the Fed's upcoming meeting.
- Market Reactions: While U.S. stocks generally rose with strong performances from tech and software stocks like Intuit and Datadog, which gained over 3%, the rise in oil prices heightened concerns about future inflation, potentially affecting investor confidence.
- Fed Policy Expectations: The market widely anticipates that the Fed will keep rates unchanged at the upcoming FOMC meeting, despite the core PCE price index standing at 3.1%, significantly above the 2.0% target, indicating a likely continued wait-and-see approach in response to economic slowdown.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
