The AEX opened practically unchanged on Friday morning, with market participants sidelined ahead of the US official employment report later today. The figures, combined with inflation trends, hold significant sway over the US central bank’s rate decisions. While robust job creation grants policymakers scope to raise borrowing costs to tame inflation, softer payroll growth would strengthen arguments for a pause.
Wall Street’s rate fears eased on Thursday after Fed Governor Christopher Waller voiced support for maintaining current interest rates if inflation continues to ease. This helped counteract market jitters from earlier in the week, when rising oil prices had fuelled expectations of further monetary tightening.
In early deal-making, the Amsterdam main index hovered fractionally higher at 1,105.02 points.
@anp | NEWS BRAINPORT
