**December Jobs Data Misses Mark, But Stock Futures Rally as Rate-Cut Pressure Eases**
U.S. stock index futures climbed sharply after December's employment report delivered a mixed picture that caught some market participants off guard. While the non-farm payrolls figure came in weaker than anticipated, traders are reading between the lines—and they seem to like what they see.
**The Numbers Don't Add Up**
Last month saw non-farm payrolls increase by just 50,000, falling short of the consensus forecast of 73,000. On the flip side, the unemployment rate ticked down to 4.4% from November's revise