© 2025 WEKU
Lexington's Choice for NPR
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
The 1850 campaign is in the home stretch! 1850 new WEKU supporters giving at least $10 a month. Great news! We are down to 541 to go! Click here to support WEKU!

On Positive Jobs Report, Nasdaq Hits 11-Year High

The better-than-expected jobs numbers released today, sent the markets into positive territory they hadn't seen in years.

The Nasdaq Composite rose to an 11-year high, while the Dow hit its highest reading in almost four years. The S&P gained 1.4 percent, marking its best start to a new year since 1987.

Here's how one obviously giddy investor framed it for Bloomberg:

"'Spectacular,' Ron Florance, managing director of investment strategy for Wells Fargo Private Bank, said in a telephone interview from Phoenix. His firm manages $169 billion. 'It's a very, very strong jobs number. It shows that companies have confidence that they see global demand growth through their products and services. That will support risk assets.'"

And here's how a more sober economist put it to The Wall Street Journal:

"'The data seem to show the economy is mending a bit faster than it was a year or two years ago,' said David Resler, chief economic adviser for Nomura Securities."

CNN Money works through the numbers:

"The rally pushed pushed the Dow, up more than 5% in 2012, to its highest level since May 2008. The Nasdaq, up more than 11% for the year, climbed to its highest level since December 2000. The S&P 500 has gained almost 7% this year, and finished at a six-month high."

Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Eyder Peralta is NPR's East Africa correspondent based in Nairobi, Kenya.
WEKU depends on support from those who view and listen to our content. There's no paywall here. Please support WEKU with your donation.
Related Content