U.S. nonfarm payrolls increased last month and the jobless rate ticked lower, beating forecasts and bolstering expectations that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates steady as it gauges inflation trends.

Federal Reserve policymakers look likely to keep interest rates on hold for longer after data on Wednesday showed the U.S. job market began 2026 on better footing than expected, but revisions showing payroll growth all but stalled last year will keep alive concerns about a weakening labor market.

A stronger-than-expected jobs report for the month of January is likely to cement that the Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady for a while.

The dollar weakened ahead of the report, while stock futures inched higher. The Dow industrials have hit record-high closes for three straight trading days. Ten-year Treasury yields slipped, on pace for a fifth consecutive session of declines.

January’s jobs data, released on Wednesday, bolstered expectations that the Federal Reserve will hold interest rates steady for longer than previously expected.

Gold prices steadied after briefly losing ground on Tuesday as unexpectedly flat U.S. retail sales data raised hopes of interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, while investors waited for key jobs and inflation data for more clues.

U.S. job growth unexpectedly accelerated in January and the unemployment rate fell to 4.3 percent, signs of labor market stability that could give the Federal Reserve room to

The S&P 500 closed virtually unchanged on Feb. 11 as a stronger-than-expected employment report eased worries about the economy but also fueled bets that the Federal Reserve