U.S. Stocks Edge Higher as Jobs Data, Corporate Moves and Policy Signals Shape Friday Outlook

U.S. equity futures pointed to a firmer open on Friday, Jan. 9, as investors absorbed slower-than-expected December hiring, multiple corporate rating changes and fresh policy initiatives from the White House.

The Labor Department reported that nonfarm payrolls grew by 50,000 last month, below both market expectations and November’s downwardly revised figure. The unemployment rate ticked lower. The subdued job creation reinforced expectations that the Federal Reserve may continue to trim interest rates in the coming months. Additional clarity on economic policy was expected later in the session, with a U.S. Supreme Court decision pending on tariff rules and a White House meeting scheduled with leading oil executives to discuss operations in Venezuela.

White House Actions Support Housing and Drug Pricing

President Donald Trump instructed government-backed mortgage firms Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to purchase up to $200 billion in mortgage-backed securities. The directive, intended to stimulate housing demand ahead of potential Fed easing, lifted home-construction shares for a second straight day. Shortly after the announcement, Lennar and D.R. Horton extended Thursday’s gains, while home-improvement retailer Home Depot also traded higher.

In a separate policy move, Johnson & Johnson agreed to lower certain U.S. drug prices in return for exemptions from existing tariffs. The accord follows similar pricing arrangements announced last month with nine other pharmaceutical companies, including Eli Lilly. The drug-pricing discussions will likely remain in focus when industry leaders gather at next week’s J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco.

Technology and Energy Collaboration

Meta Platforms signed preliminary agreements with nuclear developers Oklo and Vistra to explore nuclear energy solutions for the company’s Prometheus super-cluster computing system. Shares of Oklo rose approximately 18 percent and Vistra advanced around 16 percent in early trading, while Meta registered a modest uptick. The partnership reflects ongoing efforts among large technology firms to secure long-term, low-carbon power sources for energy-intensive artificial-intelligence infrastructure.

Analyst Revisions Highlight Sector Divergence

Baird downgraded GE Vernova to hold from buy and lowered its price target to $649 from $816. Although the new target remains above Thursday’s closing price of just under $630, the research note cited concerns about power oversupply and recommended short-term caution.

Mizuho Securities raised its price objectives on semiconductor suppliers Nvidia and Broadcom to $275 and $480, respectively, while reiterating buy ratings on both companies. The broker said valuations appear reasonable relative to anticipated demand for advanced chip-manufacturing equipment through 2026.

Evercore ISI increased its Apple target to $330 from $325, maintaining a buy stance. The firm pointed to resilient iPhone sales and limited memory-component cost pressures as potential drivers for the December quarter. Apple shares have declined nearly 5 percent since the start of the year.

Mizuho also boosted Alphabet’s target to $365 from $325, noting the significant revenue potential of Google Cloud. Alphabet’s market capitalization surpassed Apple’s on Thursday for the first time since 2019, underscoring investor interest in artificial-intelligence leadership.

Imagem: Internet

Elsewhere in the consumer sector, JPMorgan analyst Matt Boss described the 2025 holiday shopping period as the strongest since 2021 and projected a favorable retail environment in 2026. Boss highlighted Macy’s and Kohl’s as potential beneficiaries of better-than-expected demand trends.

KeyBanc Capital Markets lifted its target on chemical producer DuPont to $51 from $45 but cautioned that cyclical pressures, including a downturn in construction, continue to weigh on the broader specialty-materials industry.

Market Background and Upcoming Catalysts

The mixed corporate and macroeconomic signals arrive at a time when traders are increasingly focused on the trajectory of U.S. monetary policy. The softer payroll report has reinforced market expectations that the Federal Open Market Committee could cut rates again as soon as its next scheduled meeting. Current fed-funds futures pricing implies additional easing later in the year, contingent on inflation readings and broader labor-market conditions. Historical employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics provide context for the cooling jobs growth observed in December.

In addition to the Supreme Court tariff ruling and White House energy discussions, investors will monitor energy prices and bond yields for signs of shifting growth sentiment. Crude oil futures were little changed in early trading, while the benchmark 10-year Treasury yield edged lower on the softer employment data.

Looking ahead to next week, the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference is expected to generate headlines across the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. Executives from Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly and other major drug makers are scheduled to outline 2026 development pipelines, capital-allocation plans and response strategies to evolving U.S. pricing frameworks.

With corporate earnings season set to commence later in the month, Friday’s pre-market activity underscores the market’s sensitivity to incremental data on economic conditions, regulatory actions and company-specific developments. Traders will evaluate whether the combination of supportive policy measures, moderating labor conditions and targeted corporate investments can sustain the equity-market advance that began in late 2025.

Crédito da imagem: CNBC via AP