🌐Market Outlook
📊US Jobs Report Shock: Dollar and Yields Retreat as NFP Cools
June’s Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP) delivered a significant downside surprise, pointing to a cooling labor market and easing near-term pressure on the Federal Reserve.
🔹 Employment Slows Sharply: The U.S. economy added just 57,000 jobs in June, well below the consensus forecast of 110,000. In addition, payrolls for April and May were revised lower by a combined 74,000 jobs.
🔹 Participation Falls, Wage Growth Lags: The unemployment rate edged down to 4.2%, ending a four-month streak at 4.3%. However, the improvement was largely driven by 720,000 workers leaving the labor force, pushing the participation rate down to 61.5%, its lowest level since March 2021. Meanwhile, average hourly earnings increased 3.5% YoY, remaining below May’s 4.2% inflation rate.
🔹 Yields & Fed Expectations: The policy-sensitive 2-year Treasury yield declined by 4 basis points to 4.14%, while the U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) fell to a two-week low around 100.69–100.87 as market-implied odds of a September Fed rate hike dropped from 67% to 50%.
🇺🇸U.S. Independence Day Holiday: Thin Liquidity Conditions
Because Independence Day (July 4) falls on a Saturday this year, the federal holiday is officially observed today.
🔹 Markets Closed: All major U.S. cash equity exchanges, including the NYSE and NASDAQ, along with the U.S. Treasury cash market, remain closed.
🔹 Shortened Futures Session: U.S. futures markets continue trading on a shortened holiday schedule.
🔹 Liquidity Warning: With New York cash markets offline, global liquidity is significantly reduced. Any unexpected macro or geopolitical headlines may trigger outsized price swings.
🛢Hormuz Transit Rebounds Despite Iranian Military Ultimatum
While diplomatic de-escalation efforts continue, military rhetoric surrounding the Strait of Hormuz remains elevated.
🔹 Tehran’s Navigation Warning: Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya military command warned that commercial vessels must follow navigation routes designated by Tehran or face a “forceful response.” Iranian officials also criticized continued U.S. aerial patrols over the Strait.
🔹 CENTCOM Response: U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reaffirmed its commitment—alongside regional allies—to maintaining free and uninterrupted commercial navigation.
🔹 Supply Recovery Keeps Oil Capped: According to Lloyd’s List Intelligence, weekly vessel transits have rebounded to 258 ships, compared with 138 during the peak of the blockade. With Saudi Aramco exports recovering to roughly 90% of pre-conflict levels and the Brent futures curve remaining in contango, Brent crude continues trading near $72.15 per barrel and is on track for a fourth consecutive weekly decline.
🥇Spot Gold Reclaims the $4,100 Level
Gold benefited from the weaker Dollar and falling Treasury yields following the softer U.S. employment report.
🔹 Technical Recovery: Spot Gold (XAU/USD) advanced more than 2%, trading between $4,123.96 and $4,180.02 per ounce. The rebound partially offsets June’s sharp 12% decline, the steepest monthly drop since the 2008 Global Financial Crisis.
🔹 ETF Outflows Ease: Although global gold ETF holdings recently fell to their lowest level since September 2025 at 96.72 million ounces, lower real yields have encouraged renewed physical and speculative demand.
📌Trading Advisory:
Yesterday’s softer NFP report has reduced immediate Fed tightening expectations and weakened the U.S. Dollar. However, today’s holiday-thinned liquidity means even modest geopolitical developments or macro headlines could generate disproportionate market moves. Risk management remains essential heading into the weekend.