Shares of industrial and transportation companies fell after an unexpected contraction of the U.S. jobs market.
U.S. employers shed 92,000 workers in February, contrary to economists' forecasts of a 50,000 increase in the size of the work force.
"The rise in the unemployment rate to 4.4% suggests to us that the Fed will retain an easing bias in its communications at the March meeting," said economists at brokerage BNP Paribas. "However, we doubt that the print will add urgency for a near-term cut given inflationary risks around the US-Iran conflict."
Shares of freight shipping firms rose after Container shipping groups A.P. Moller-Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd suspended key shipping routes into and out of the Middle East as the fallout from the war in the region continues to disrupt trade flows.
Switzerland said it would buy fewer U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets than previously planned, citing rising prices, and added that it might procure one additional air defense system manufactured in Europe.
Ford Motor fell after the auto giant reported almost 2.4 million recalls in six separate actions on Tuesday, according to data posted on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website.
Write to Rob Curran at rob.curran@dowjones.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
03-06-26 1712ET
