US and European equity markets have moved higher this afternoon despite the latest employment figures raising questions over the strength of the US recovery.
The US economy added 113,000 jobs in January, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics: below the 180,000 economists had expected and following on from similarly disappointing December figures. But equity markets moved higher on the news, with some pinning the gains on renewed hope the US Federal Reserve will be forced to prolong its stimulus programme. The S&P 500 rose 0.6% to 1,784, putting it within sight of its first weekly gain in a month. The FTSE 100 also moved slightly higher, up 0.3% at 6,578. December's payroll employment, which some analysts had also expected to be re...
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