Stocks to watch today: Volatility is set to grip markets for a fifth straight session on Friday as investors assess newsflow around Covid-19 cases in China, US jobs data, and Ukraine-Russia war.
A better-than-expected reading of ADP private payrolls report in the US showed that employers added 235,000 jobs in December — showing a strong labor market despite the US Fed's attempt to tame inflation and suggesting there is more room for higher rates.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered his defence minister to impose a 36-hour ceasefire on the Ukrainian frontline, beginning on Friday. This will coincide with