Attention to US jobs report and Shell update on Damrock

The Amsterdam stock market is mainly anticipating the US government’s official jobs report on Friday. The jobs number plays an important role in the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy. A strong labor market gives the central bank more room to raise interest rates further in the fight against inflation.

On Thursday, payroll processor ADP had already reported that the US private sector added 235,000 jobs in December. There are jobs in public sector in government report. Thursday also showed that the number of weekly claims for unemployment benefits in the US fell again.

Strong labor market data left Wall Street wary of additional rate hikes from the central bank on Thursday. Federal Reserve Director James Bullard offered some relief, saying the first signs of inflation were emerging, but New York stock markets closed with heavy losses.

Additionally, investors are considering Shell’s trading update on the performance and production of various units over the past quarter. The oil and gas group, among others, expects revenues from gas trading to be significantly higher than in the third quarter. Additional tax measures in the European Union and the United Kingdom will have an impact of about $2 billion on earnings in the fourth quarter, the group said.

The AEX index on Beursplein 5 seems to be starting slightly higher. Other European stock markets are also expected to open with smaller gains. Asian stock markets were mostly bullish on Friday. Tokyo’s Nikkei rose 0.6 percent in December after further growth in Japan’s services sector.

In the tech and chip sector, investors are digesting Samsung’s results. The electronics and chip maker last quarter saw its operating profit fall by the most in more than a decade. South Korea’s largest company faces weak demand for memory chips, smartphones and displays.

Brewer Heineken could benefit from Morgan Stanley’s buyout advice. Belgian real estate company Retail Estates has announced the acquisition of thirteen retail properties in Woonmall Alexandrium in Rotterdam for approximately €22.4 million.

The euro was at $1.0513, up from $1.0525 the previous day. A barrel of U.S. oil rose 1 percent to $74.42 a barrel. Brent oil was also up 1 percent at $79.45 a barrel.