U.S. markets enter Monday, August 10, 2026, with conditions set by the Friday, August 7 close.

Stocks finished the week with another strong move. The S&P 500 reached a record close. The Nasdaq pushed higher. The Dow stayed near record levels. Small caps improved. The jobs report changed expectations. Treasury yields moved lower. Investors returned to risk.

The S&P 500 closed at 7,757.64.
The Nasdaq closed at 26,690.62.
The Dow closed at 54,036.93.
The Russell 2000 closed at 3,034.49.

The market message changed. Before Friday, investors worried about higher rates. After Friday’s jobs report, investors focused on a different question: Could weaker labor data give the Federal Reserve more room?

Friday’s session finished the week with broad gains.

The Nasdaq rose +1.3%.
The Russell 2000 rose +1.1%.
The S&P 500 rose +0.6%.
The Dow gained +0.3%.

That ranked the major indexes from strongest to weakest as:

Nasdaq, Russell 2000, S&P 500, Dow.
The Nasdaq gained 342.27 points.
The S&P 500 gained 47.68 points.
The Russell 2000 gained 32.94 points.
The Dow gained 151.83 points.

The strongest signal came from growth stocks. Technology continued leading as investors became more comfortable with the rate outlook. The Nasdaq finished the week with the strongest gain. That showed buyers were still willing to add exposure to AI and growth companies. The S&P 500 reached another record close. The index benefited from strong earnings and lower rate pressure. The Dow remained strong. Large companies continued attracting buyers because they offer stability. Small caps improved.

The Russell 2000 moved above 3,000 again. That matters because smaller companies usually benefit when investors expect easier financial conditions.

The market message: The rally is broadening. But inflation remains the next test.

Treasury yields moved lower after the jobs report.

The 2-year yield declined.
The 10-year yield moved near 4.64%.
The 30-year yield remained near 5.20%.

The bond market reacted to weaker labor data. A softer jobs market can reduce pressure on the Federal Reserve. That helped stocks. But long-term yields remain elevated. The 30-year yield is still near a level that can pressure valuations.

The bond market message: Rate pressure eased. But it did not disappear.

The dollar remained steady. The U.S. Dollar Index stayed elevated. The yen strengthened. The euro remained mixed.

Currency markets focused on changing expectations for U.S. rates. A softer rate outlook can reduce some dollar strength. The next major currency move will depend on inflation data.

Commodity markets were mixed.

WTI crude remained near $77.
Brent crude moved near $82.

Gold remained supported. Oil stayed important. Higher energy prices can slow progress on inflation. Gold remained supported as investors watched rates and global risks.

The commodity message: Energy remains the biggest inflation variable.

Monday begins with a stronger market setup. The biggest change came from employment data.

The market moved through three steps:

Now investors shift focus toward inflation.

The next major questions:

The market is stronger than it was one week ago. But the next move depends on data.

Key reference levels:

Markets enter Monday after the strongest signal of the week. The S&P 500 reached a record close. The Nasdaq led gains. The Dow stayed strong. Small caps improved. The jobs report reduced rate pressure. Treasury yields moved lower. Investors returned to growth.

The key takeaway: Friday changed the market conversation. Investors moved from worrying about higher rates to watching whether weaker labor data gives the Federal Reserve more room. Stocks remain strong, but the next test is inflation.