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April 4, 2026 | Tech Talk for Saturday April 4th 2026
Don Vialoux
The Bottom Line
Friday’s U.S. March employment report, released when U.S. equity markets were closed, provided an encouraging surprise for the U.S. economy: Consensus called for a 59,000 increase in March Non-farm Payrolls versus a revised 92,000 drop in February. Actual was a 178,000 increase. Consensus for the March Unemployment Rate was unchanged at 4.4% in February. Actual was a drop to 4.3%.
Overnight equity markets on Friday were less impressed by the employment report: Initially, U.S. equity index futures moved lower due to concerns that higher than expected employment will pressure inflation rates higher.
Economic focus this week is on the U.S. March Consumer Price Index report released on Friday The report will include the initial shock of higher crude oil prices
Corporate earnings reports released this week are not expected to influence U.S. equity markets: Only three S&P 500 companies are scheduled to release results. The flood of first quarter reports starts next week with a focus on reports by major financial companies.
North American equity markets entered their Spring period of seasonal strength last week, slightly later than their normal.
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Don Vialoux April 4th, 2026
Posted In: Tech Talk