Global chip stocks retreat as markets brace for U.S. payroll data

The broader S&P 500 remained flat despite the semiconductor pullback, with the equal-weighted index hitting fresh highs. Meta emerged as a notable outlier, climbing 9% following reports of plans to monetize excess AI computing capacity through an expanded cloud business. Meanwhile, the upcoming jobs report is projected to show an increase of 110,000 positions, a figure that remains comfortably above the threshold required to stabilize the unemployment rate.

Central bank policy remains a focal point for traders. In Portugal, Fed officials reaffirmed a commitment to the 2% inflation target, though recent data indicates some cooling in price pressures. Parallel to these developments, the Japanese yen staged a significant recovery from 40-year lows. Reports suggest Tokyo is shifting toward an opportunistic intervention strategy, opting to surprise speculative traders rather than signaling currency moves in advance. In Europe, the outlook for the ECB has brightened after headline inflation hit 2.8%, undercutting analyst expectations of 3% and offering potential relief from further interest rate hikes.