Written by: Craig James, Commsec Chief Economist

MORNING REPORT

(7am AEDT)

US non-farm payrolls (employment) rose by 80,000 in October, short of forecasts for a gain of 95,000 jobs. But there were sharp upward revisions to August and September data, adding 102,000 jobs. The jobless rate fell from 9.1pct to 9.0pct and average weekly hours were unchanged at 34.3 hours.

The Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou has won a confidence vote and will attempt to form a new coalition government.

European shares fell on Friday as investors fretted that the Euro debt deal could unravel. The FTSEurofirst index fell by 0.9pct with the UK FTSE lower by 0.3pct and the German Dax lost 2.7pct. European shares fell by 3.0pct over the week.

US shares fell on Friday. The G20 leaders conference failed to come up with fresh initiatives while there was uncertainty ahead of the Greek confidence vote. The Dow Jones fell by 61pts or 0.5pct with the S&P 500 down by 0.6pct and the Nasdaq lost 11.8pts or 0.4pct. Over the week the Dow Jones fell for the first time in six weeks, losing 2.0pct. The S&P 500 lost 2.5pct and the Nasdaq fell by 1.9pct.

US treasuries rose on Friday (yields lower) as investors awaited the Greek confidence vote. But gains were crimped by encouraging US jobs data. US 2yr yields fell by 2pts to 0.22pct and US 10yr yields fell by 4pts to 2.04pct. Over the week US 2yr yields fell by 7.5pts while US 10yr yields fell by 27pts.

The Euro and commodity currencies fell in European trade against the greenback before clawing back losses in US trade. The Euro eased from highs near US$1.3860 to near US$1.3710 and ended US trade near US$1.3795. The Aussie dollar eased from highs around US104.20c to US103.15c, and ended US trade at US103.75c. And the Japanese yen eased from 77.95 yen and JPY78.25, ending US trade near these levels.

US crude oil prices rose for a third straight day on Friday in response to encouraging US jobs data. But uncertainty about the Greek confidence vote restrained gains. Nymex crude oil rose by US19c or 0.2pct to US$94.46 a barrel and London Brent crude rose by US$1.14 or 1.0pct to US$111.97 a barrel. Over the week Nymex crude rose by 1.0pct while Brent rose by 1.9pct.

Base metal prices were mixed on the London Metals Exchange on Friday as US jobs data balanced uncertainty about the debt deal in Europe. Nickel rose 2.6pct, lead rose 0.6pct and tin rose 0.2pct but other metals fell 0.2-0.9pct . Over the week base metals fell, reversing some of the strong gains posted in the previous week. Metals fell between 0.2-4.7pct. And the gold price fell in line with other commodities in thin trade with the Comex December gold price down by US$9.00 an ounce to US$1,756.10. Over the week gold rose by 0.5pct.

Ahead: In Australia, the ANZ job ads index is released. In the US, consumer credit data is released.