This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/stocks-extend-slight-gains-as-markets-look-to-tuesdays-election-a7398266.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Stocks Extend Slight Gains as Markets Look to Tuesday's Election Stocks Lose Highs as Markets Look to Tuesday's Election
(about 2 hours later)
Stocks extended slight gains on Friday, looking to snap their worst losing streak since 2008, as investors looked ahead to next week's presidential election. Stocks lost gains in the final hour of trading on Friday as investors looked ahead to next week's presidential election.
The S&P 500 was up 0.42%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average increased 0.26%, and the Nasdaq rose 0.47%. The S&P 500 fell for its eighth session in a row on Thursday.  The S&P 500 was up 0.09%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.03%, and the Nasdaq was flat. The S&P 500 fell for its eighth session in a row on Thursday. 
Current polls indicate Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has a slight advantage in battleground states and a wider path to winning the electoral college over Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. Stocks have teetered throughout the week as Trump gained a few points in national polls. Voters will head to the polls next Tuesday, Nov. 8.Current polls indicate Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has a slight advantage in battleground states and a wider path to winning the electoral college over Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. Stocks have teetered throughout the week as Trump gained a few points in national polls. Voters will head to the polls next Tuesday, Nov. 8.
The number of jobs added to the U.S. economy came in slightly lower than expected, though August and September numbers were both revised upward. Economists anticipated 171,000 jobs to have been added to nonfarm payrolls in October.The number of jobs added to the U.S. economy came in slightly lower than expected, though August and September numbers were both revised upward. Economists anticipated 171,000 jobs to have been added to nonfarm payrolls in October.
The unemployment rate slipped to 4.9% from 5%, as expected. Average hourly earnings rose 0.4%, the highest since July, and above consensus of 0.3% growth. Earnings rose 2.8% year over year, highest since 2009.The unemployment rate slipped to 4.9% from 5%, as expected. Average hourly earnings rose 0.4%, the highest since July, and above consensus of 0.3% growth. Earnings rose 2.8% year over year, highest since 2009.
"Today's report is the first of two employment reports we will get ahead of the December FOMC meeting," BNP Paribas analysts wrote in a note. "If this labor market progress continues, we see a high likelihood of a 25bp hike at that meeting, barring other shocks. Following the November FOMC statement we bumped up our probability of a December hike to 75% and today's NFP print nudges it higher to 80%.""Today's report is the first of two employment reports we will get ahead of the December FOMC meeting," BNP Paribas analysts wrote in a note. "If this labor market progress continues, we see a high likelihood of a 25bp hike at that meeting, barring other shocks. Following the November FOMC statement we bumped up our probability of a December hike to 75% and today's NFP print nudges it higher to 80%."
The chance of a rate hike in December currently sits at 72%, according to CME Group fed funds futures. The Federal Reserve opted to leave rates unchanged at its November meeting, though members noted that the case for a hike had strengthened.