Hot U.S. jobs data jolts global markets: stocks up, gold softer, bitcoin dips

The latest U.S. nonfarm payrolls report showed 165,000 jobs added in October, beating economists’ forecasts and keeping unemployment near historically low levels. That strength underlines a resilient economy but also reignites worries that the Federal Reserve could resume interest‑rate hikes sooner than markets had hoped.

According to major brokerage commentary, the data initially left U.S. stocks mixed while Treasury yields moved higher. Higher yields weighed on gold, which slipped more than 1% to around $4,060 per ounce, reversing part of this week’s earlier advance. Bitcoin, by contrast, edged only modestly lower to the mid‑$75,000s, suggesting crypto has so far avoided the kind of heavy de‑risking seen in equities.

In currencies, the dollar firmed as investors priced in a greater chance of renewed tightening. For global allocators, the message is uncomfortable: growth still looks solid, but the path of rates is once again uncertain. That combination is forcing a fresh rethink of portfolio mix across stocks, bonds, commodities, and digital assets over the coming weeks.