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The U.S. stock market paused its recent rally on Monday, as investors weighed fresh signals from the Federal Reserve and looked ahead to this week’s key jobs data. Major indexes closed slightly lower, with traders treading cautiously after last week’s strong gains. ## Market Overview The **S&P 500** edged down, closing at **5,180**, a drop of **0.3%** on the day. The **Nasdaq Composite** also slipped, ending the session at **16,350** for a **0.4%** loss. The **Dow Jones Industrial Average** finished at **39,050**, down about **0.2%**. Bond markets saw mild movement as the yield on the **10-year U.S. Treasury** held near recent highs, closing at **4.50%**. This level reflects persistent uncertainty about the Fed’s next moves on interest rates. In commodities, **WTI crude oil** settled at **$82.20** per barrel, up **0.8%**, while **spot gold** ticked higher to **$2,330** per ounce, gaining **0.5%** as investors sought safety. On the currency front, the **U.S. Dollar Index (DXY)** was little changed at **104.2**, while the **EUR/USD** pair hovered around **1.074**, reflecting a quiet day in foreign exchange. ## Key Movers Tech shares, which led last week’s rally, cooled off. **Nvidia (NVDA)** slipped **1.1%**, while **Apple (AAPL)** and **Microsoft (MSFT)** each lost about **0.5%**. The pullback followed a week of outsized gains for the sector, as traders locked in profits and reacted to cautious commentary from Fed officials. Financials outperformed, with **JPMorgan Chase (JPM)** and **Goldman Sachs (GS)** both eking out small gains. These banks benefited from higher yields, which can boost net interest income. In energy, **Exxon Mobil (XOM)** advanced **1.3%** as oil prices rebounded. The move came after OPEC+ signaled that it would maintain production cuts, supporting crude markets. Gold’s uptick reflected a modest increase in demand for safe-haven assets, as investors braced for potential volatility ahead of Friday’s U.S. jobs report. For readers curious about expanding their portfolios, you can learn more about using fractional shares on European platforms or explore how to buy crypto with EUR on popular brokers. ## What to Watch All eyes now turn to Friday’s U.S. nonfarm payrolls report, which could shape expectations for Fed policy into the summer. A strong jobs number may reinforce the central bank’s cautious stance on rate cuts, while a downside surprise could revive hopes for easing. Investors will also monitor a slate of Fed speakers throughout the week for further clarity on the policy outlook. On the earnings front, several large-cap consumer and tech companies are scheduled to report, which could spark renewed sector rotation. With volatility likely to pick up, market participants remain focused on macro data and central bank signals as they position for the weeks ahead.