Jobs Surprise Cools the Open Fast

Right out of the gate, the S&P 500 sits at 7,739.80 (-0.10%) and the Nasdaq at 26,608.51 (+0.09%) — a real tug-of-war. Compared to my 4:40am brief, the S&P's down 1.21 points and the Nasdaq 1.39 points, so whatever warmth I felt before dawn cooled off fast at the open. The culprit's last night's August nonfarm payrolls report — a surprise jump of 162,000 — which reignited September rate-hike jitters and sent the 2-year Treasury yield punching through 4.4%. That overnight glow from Kospi's +1.64% and Kosdaq's +2.95% close never made it across the Pacific; right now energy and innovative tech are holding the line while cybersecurity and EV battery names wobble. My book's sitting comfortable with Microsoft +29.1%, Nvidia +7.1%, Freeport +8.2%, while Duksan Neolux is still underwater at -7.6% — with 6 hours 20 minutes left to the close, I'm watching whether that Treasury yield keeps piling on the pressure.