TRUMP’S TEASING JOBS REPORT TWEET RAISES QUESTIONS

U.S. President Donald Trump seemed to tease a positive jobs report on Friday, a step that moved markets and raised questions about the appropriateness of publicly hinting at information that could make or lose fortunes. Treasury yields jumped and the U.S. dollar rose within seconds of Trump’s 7:21 a.m. tweet that said he was “looking forward to seeing the employment numbers at 8:30 this morning,”

suggesting traders likely were making decisions based on what they extrapolated from Trump’s post. The director of the White House National Economic Council, Larry Kudlow, pictured, said he briefed Trump on the jobs report Thursday evening. Though Trump’s tweet drew criticism, Kudlow defended it. “Why not? He didn’t give any numbers,” Kudlow said.