Attention on Friday will be focused firmly on the state of the American jobs market, with the release of monthly figures on employment growth in the world’s largest economy. June’s non-farm payrolls number, an important indicator of market sentiment, is expected to have fallen to about 180,000 after a robust 272,000 expansion in May.
Jobs data in the United States has consistently beaten expectations this year as a strong private sector, government spending and record immigration have fuelled the labour market before November’s presidential election. The unemployment rate will remain unchanged at 4 per cent, close to historic lows despite interest rates remaining above 5 per cent.
The US Federal Reserve is looking for signs of cooling in the labour market and a decline in