Underlying US inflation probably cooled only a touch at the close of 2024 against a backdrop of a resilient job market and steadfast economy, supporting the Federal Reserve’s go-slow approach to further rate cuts.

The U.S. dollar rallied across the board on Friday after data showed the world's largest economy created more jobs than expected last month, reinforcing expectations that the Federal Reserve will pause its rate-cutting cycle at its policy meeting later this month.

US employers added a surprisingly strong 256,000 jobs in December — dimming hopes that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates anytime soon. The blowout number from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics — a massive jump from the month before as hiring rebounded from strikes and major hurricanes — pushed back traders’ bets for the central bank to cut rates to October versus a previous consensus in June or July,