Stocks, dollar, bond yields tumble as weak US jobs data stuns

Data dashed most investors' expectations for a Federal Reserve interest rate hike later this month

US and European shares, the dollar, oil and bond yields dived on Friday after data showed the slowest pace of US job growth in more than five years, dashing most investors' expectations for a Federal Reserve interest rate hike later this month.

US non-farm payrolls rose by just 38,000 in May, the smallest gain since September 2010 and far below an expected 164,000. All 105 economists polled by Reuters had expected a higher number.

While the jobless rate fell three-tenths of a percentage point to 4.7%, the lowest since November 2007, that was partly due to people dropping out of the labor force.

US shares sank and European stocks reversed gains. The dollar hit its lowest in more than three weeks against a basket of major currencies, and benchmark 10-year US Treasury yields hit 1.702%, their lowest level in nearly three weeks.

A fall in bank stocks led the decline in US shares, with the S&P 500 financial index down 2.06% in late morning trading. Europe's auto sector index fell 2.27% as the euro gained more than 1.6% against the dollar.

"This was a shocking miss," said Mark Grant, fixed income strategist at Hilltop Securities in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on the US jobs report. "I think this puts into serious question if the Fed is going to do anything for the year (in terms of rate hikes)."

MSCI's all-country world equity index was little changed, adding just 0.76 point, or 0.19%, to 403.25.

The Dow Jones industrial average was down 81.94 points, or 0.46%, at 17,756.62. The S&P 500 was down 13.06 points, or 0.62%, at 2,092.2. The Nasdaq Composite was off 44.52 points, or 0.9%, at 4,926.85.

Europe's broad FTSEurofirst 300 index was down 0.88% at 1,339.04 after gaining around 0.7% before the US jobs data.

The plunge in US 10-year yields was on track to mark the biggest one-day fall since early February, while US two-year note yields were on track for their biggest one-day tumble since last September.

Fed funds futures, based on the CME Group's FedWatch, moved to price in a 4% perceived chance of a June rate hike after the US jobs report, from 21% late Thursday.

The dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of six major currencies, was last down 1.52% at 94.107 after hitting a session low of 93.986.

"People were positioned for the idea that this was going to be a good enough number for the Fed to move forward in June, and now they have to adjust," said Kathy Jones, chief fixed income strategist at Charles Schwab.

The US jobs numbers also weighed on oil prices.

Brent crude was last down 41 cents, or 0.82%, at $49.63 a barrel. US crude was last down 41 cents, or 0.83%, at $48.76 per barrel.

Gold surged more than 2% and was on track for its biggest one-day jump in more than a month.