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U.S. Jobs Numbers Could Shake Markets Up

Employment figures from south of the border could mean a downward day for stock markets.

Futures pointed to a 0.3% drop for the S&P 500, compared with a 0.1% gain ahead of the jobs data, however, changes in futures don't necessarily reflect market moves after the opening bell.

Non-farm payrolls rose by a seasonally adjusted 38,000 in May, the weakest performance since September 2010, the U.S. Labor Department said Friday. Economists had predicted payrolls would rise by 158,000.

However, the unemployment rate fell from 5% to 4.7%, the lowest reading 2007.

Numbers are being watched closely, since it is an important factor as the Federal Reserve considers whether to raise interest rates again, possibly this summer.

The response in stock markets has been relatively calm so far, compared with earlier this year when concerns about higher U.S. interest rates spooked investors.