🚀 US job growth better than expected

In partnership with

Unwind Naturally with Enhanced Relief Gummies

Feel the calm set in with these Enhanced Relief Gummies—crafted with 5mg THC + 75mg CBD for stress relief, reduced anxiety, and deep relaxation without the hangover.

Perfect for evenings when you need to truly unwind. Get 25% off your first order with code RLX25 and experience why this brand has over 48k 5-star reviews.

Shop & Relax Now

Market Overview
Read time 1.4 minutes

Year To Date Performances:

1. U.S. job growth topped expectations in April, with 177,000 jobs added—beating the 133,000 forecast—despite lingering fears over President Trump’s broad-based tariff threats. The unemployment rate held steady at 4.2%, and broader underemployment ticked down to 7.8%, while the labor force participation rate rose slightly to 62.6%. Sectors like healthcare, transportation, and finance led gains, offsetting federal job cuts and a small dip in manufacturing. Wage growth disappointed at 0.2% monthly and 3.8% annually. Markets rallied and pushed back expectations for a Fed rate cut to July, even as Trump renewed calls for immediate easing.

2. Netflix is on its longest winning streak ever, with shares rising for 11 consecutive trading days and hitting all-time highs following strong Q1 earnings that showed 13% revenue growth driven by better-than-expected ad and subscription income. Up over 30% since President Trump’s second term began, Netflix has remained resilient amid trade tensions and economic uncertainty, unlike traditional media peers like Warner Bros. Discovery and Disney, which have slumped. Despite price hikes, Netflix says demand is holding, and with upcoming ad deals and global expansion, analysts like JPMorgan see further upside—even as the company stops reporting subscriber counts.

3. Block shares plunged over 20%—its second-worst day on record—after a disappointing Q1 earnings report triggered multiple analyst downgrades and raised red flags about stagnant growth at its flagship Cash App. Despite rolling out new features like Afterpay, Cash App monthly users remained flat at 57 million, and inflows rose just 8%, missing expectations across revenue, profit, and payment volume. Analysts cited weak consumer demand and macroeconomic softness, while CEO Jack Dorsey acknowledged a lack of focus on peer-to-peer growth. Meanwhile, Venmo, owned by PayPal, posted a 20% revenue jump as it gains traction in e-commerce, suggesting the consumer wallet war is tilting in its favor—for now.

4. Headlines

   1. S&P 500 has its longest winning streak in just over 20 years with nine consecutive positive closes.

   2. Trump is claiming he will remove Harvard’s tax-exempt status as part of an ongoing feud with the university.

   _{* This is sponsored content.}

Are you looking to grow your business? Here is how I can help: 

📱Book a Strategy Call to get 1:1 feedback on your pitch, pitch deck and/or fundraising strategy. (If you need general startup advice, then reply to this email, and I’ll let you know if/how I can help.)

Learn how to make AI work for you

AI won’t take your job, but a person using AI might. That’s why 1,000,000+ professionals read The Rundown AI – the free newsletter that keeps you updated on the latest AI news and teaches you how to use it in just 5 minutes a day.

Sign up to start learning.

Onwards and Upwards,

Liam Gill