Nasdaq falls 0,7% and S&P 500 retreats amid tensions and employment data.

• US stock market closes down.
• Defense stocks surge over Trump's plan.
• Employment data stirs expectations at the Federal Reserve.

US stock markets closed lower on Thursday, pressured by a combination of economic and political factors. The Nasdaq index fell 0,7%, mainly impacted by losses in Nvidia, Apple, and Meta shares. The S&P 500 also declined slightly, moving away from its recent highs. In contrast, the Dow Jones advanced 0,4% after a volatile session.

Investors are closely watching the actions of current US President Donald Trump, who announced a proposal to increase military spending by 50%, raising the sector's budget to US$1,5 trillion annually. The announcement strongly boosted the shares of defense companies, with Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin rising more than 5%. A day earlier, the shares of these companies had suffered losses due to Trump's threats to restrict dividends and share buybacks if there was no investment in arms expansion.

In the economic field, labor market figures also contributed to caution. According to Challenger, Gray & Christmas, the volume of planned layoffs in December was the lowest of the year, which was interpreted as a positive sign. However, unemployment claims increased in the week ending January 3, albeit at a slower pace than projected, supporting the view of a market in the process of stabilization.

Wall Street also analyzed other data indicating weakness in private hiring. These indicators serve as a preview for the highly anticipated December jobs report, which will be released this Friday and could directly influence the Federal Reserve's next monetary policy steps.

Meanwhile, geopolitical tensions remain a concern. In an interview with the New York Times, Trump stated that the United States could maintain control of Venezuelan oil revenue for years, reinforcing the interventionist stance of the Republican administration. Furthermore, the Supreme Court's potential decision on the legality of tariffs imposed by the previous administration is expected this Friday and could affect market sentiment, particularly in the industrial and export sectors.

In the cryptocurrency market, Bitcoin is currently trading at US$91.244,22, attempting to recover after a drop that took it close to US$89. The cryptocurrency is trading sideways today, without significant fluctuations.