Jobs Data Jolts Wall Street, Nifty Tests Key Support

U.S. markets traded in a tight band for the fourth straight week, with mixed macro signals keeping risk appetite muted. The S&P 500 rose 0.1%, the Nasdaq gained 0.4%, while the Dow slipped 0.3%. A stronger‑than‑expected August payrolls print (162k vs 50–53k expected) revived expectations of a September Fed hike, reversing the earlier dovish boost from Governor Waller’s comments. Attention now shifts to Friday’s CPI the final key data before the 16 September FOMC meeting.

In India, sentiment stayed fragile amid rising crude and elevated U.S. yields. Nifty fell 0.93%, facing stiff resistance at 24,000–24,200, while a break below 23,800 risks a move toward 23,600. Holding above 23,800 may allow near‑term consolidation.