Hot US Jobs Report Sinks Stocks & Gold, Lifts the Dollar
A far-stronger-than-expected US jobs report set the tone across every market overnight. May nonfarm payrolls came in at 172,000 versus the ~80,000 economists expected, spiking Treasury yields, supercharging the US dollar, and sending stocks, gold and silver sharply lower.
Market snapshot
| Instrument | Level | Move |
|---|---|---|
| Forex | ||
| EUR/USD | ~1.1500 | multi-week low |
| GBP/USD | 1.3337 | −0.67% |
| USD/JPY | 160.29 | +0.21% |
| Metals & energy | ||
| Gold (XAU/USD) | ~$4,300 | 3-month low |
| Silver (XAG/USD) | < $70 | ≈ −7% on the week |
| Brent Crude | ~$97.95 | −$3.41 |
| Indices | ||
| S&P 500 | 7,383.74 | −2.64% |
| Nasdaq Composite | 25,709.43 | −4.18% |
| Dow Jones | 50,866.78 | −1.35% |
Levels are approximate, sourced from public reports around the US session close / early Sydney open. Always check live prices with your broker.
Forex: the dollar bulldozes everything
The greenback was the clear winner. With payrolls smashing forecasts, traders rapidly repriced how soon, and how much, the Federal Reserve might cut rates, pushing yields and the dollar up together. EUR/USD slid to fresh multi-week lows around 1.1500, and GBP/USD dropped 0.67% to 1.3337. USD/JPY pushed higher to 160.29 as the yield gap widened in the dollar's favour.
Metals: gold and silver get hit by rising yields
Higher real yields and a stronger dollar are a classic headwind for non-yielding metals, and both felt it. Gold sank toward three-month lows near $4,300, while silver slipped below $70, its lowest since late March and down roughly 7% on the week. The move erased much of the metals' recent gains.
Indices: a tech-led sell-off
Equities took the hardest hit. The rate-sensitive, chip-heavy Nasdaq tumbled 4.18% to 25,709.43, its worst session since April 2025, as traders fled high-multiple growth names. The S&P 500 lost 2.64% to 7,383.74 and the Dow shed 695 points (−1.35%) to 50,866.78. Stronger growth is usually good news for stocks; here, the fear of "higher for longer" rates outweighed it.
What it means for the day ahead
With the dollar firmly in control, the key question is whether the bond-market repricing extends or stabilises. Watch the next round of Fed commentary and yields for direction. If you're trading any of this, size your positions to the heightened volatility, since wider ranges mean a fixed lot size carries more risk than usual.
This market wrap is for information and education only and is not financial advice, a forecast, or a recommendation to buy or sell any instrument. Prices and percentage moves are approximate, sourced from public reports, and may be delayed or revised. Trading forex, CFDs and leveraged products carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. You can lose more than your deposit. Always do your own research.