US stocks started the week trading with modest gains, as investors braced for inflation data that could influence the Federal Reserve's (Fed) monetary policy.
Last week, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq rose 0.96% and 3.34%, respectively, marking three straight weeks of gains.
However, the Dow Jones slipped 0.6% for its first weekly loss in nearly a month.
The November NFP jobs report released on Friday showed a more than expected 227,000 jobs added, indicating resilience in the labor market.
However, market sentiment still points to the Fed implementing a modest 25 basis point rate cut later this month, giving room for speculation about the central bank's next move.
Tech giants gave the Nasdaq index a boost. Tesla jumped nearly 13%, with Meta Platforms, Amazon, Microsoft, and Apple also making significant gains.
Their strong performance signals investor confidence in the tech sector's growth prospects.
