No US NFP Report on Friday as Markets Juggle Partial Shutdown and Volatile Assets

The January U.S. jobs report, including the crucial Nonfarm Payrolls data, has been postponed due to the ongoing partial government shutdown. Federal agencies have suspended routine operations, leaving key economic indicators on hold until funding resumes. Investors had been expecting modest job growth of around 55,000 positions and a steady 4.4% unemployment rate, but now the market will have to wait before gauging labor market strength.


Markets Kick Off February With Caution

Despite the delay, U.S. stocks opened February on a positive note. The Dow Jones rose sharply, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq posted modest gains. Traders are balancing optimism from recent corporate earnings and economic reports with lingering uncertainty from the shutdown. The pause in federal data releases adds an unusual layer of unpredictability to market sentiment.


Precious Metals and Cryptocurrencies Stabilize After Turmoil

Gold and silver pared losses following last week’s dramatic drops, while Bitcoin steadied just below $78,000 after slipping under $80,000 for the first time since April. These moves suggest investors are cautiously returning to risk assets, even as volatility remains elevated.


Corporate Earnings and AI Investments in Focus

Technology companies and AI investments remain a key driver for market attention. Shares in major chipmakers and cloud infrastructure firms have fluctuated ahead of quarterly earnings, reflecting investor curiosity about the returns on massive AI and cloud spending. Analysts see strong growth potential, but the market remains sensitive to any negative surprises.


Uncertainty Looms as Shutdown Persists

The partial shutdown has already delayed a number of routine economic reports, and other data releases, including consumer and trade indicators, could also face postponements. Traders are wary that missing labor market insights may complicate forecasting and create short-term market swings.


Eyes on the Weeks Ahead

With corporate earnings from major U.S. firms and delayed government reports on the horizon, markets are entering a volatile but opportunity-rich period. Investors will be closely watching the eventual payroll release, alongside earnings updates and commodity trends, to gauge the economy’s resilience and market direction for the rest of 2026.