What to Expect in the Week Ahead (FOMC Minutes; Non-Farm Payrolls)

The week starting January 6 is expected to see some ups and downs.

The stock market's first big test this year comes next week, as investors hope the U.S. jobs report shows the economy is steady enough to support growth in 2025 without causing worries.

The report for December, due out on Jan 10, is expected to show growth of 155,000 jobs with the unemployment rate at 4.2%.

Besides, investors are looking forward to the December FOMC meeting minutes, where the Fed lowered interest rates by 0.25%. But the Fed plans to be cautious, expecting only two rate cuts instead of the four originally predicted, and stressing the importance of inflation data and Trump-era policy updates.