Intraday

After an exciting opening with S&P bouncing up and down, at this hour markets seem to settle down. S&P is trading with some moderate gains, up 3.21 points to 945.67. It was quite an interesting start for the markets when the unemployment data indicated some mixed news. Unemployment is at its 26-year highs yet the lay-offs are at the lowest since September 2008.

Materials and Health care are the worst performing sectors today though pulled back up from their fresh day lows, down 0.51% and 0.39% respectively. On the other hand, Industrials are the leading sector with some moderate gains at 23.96, up 1.83%.

Dollar made a comeback after starting the day with losses, up 1.34%. It is not the same for the commodities index though. It is down 0.5%. Gold is currently down 2.1% at $960.50 an ounce. Silver is down to $15.25 an ounce.

Meanwhile, crude oil, after hitting its year highs yesterday is pulling back at this hour, trading now at $67.70 a barrel.

The volume at the stock exchange has come down. There is almost no movement now. Eyes are turned to the upcoming consumer credit report at 3pm.

Oppenheimer today upgraded Jackson Hewitt Tax Services (JTX) to outperform from perform. The stock is currently the top percentage gainer in the NYSE, up 40% trading at $6.01.

Market Update

S&P futures vs fair value: +14.4 at 954.9. Latest unemployment data came out today. Non farm Payrolls Report showed that in May, 345,000 jobs were lost, pushing the unemployment rate to 9.4%. The consensus estimate was 9.2%. Although unemployment rate rose to a 26-year high, May unemployment number was the best since September 2008. On the other hand, Manufacturing job losses totaled 156,000 up from the expectation of 150K.

Meanwhile European bourses are Germany's Dax is up 1.16% all trading in the green today. France's CAC is up 2.04%, and FTSE of UK is up 2.06%.