US stocks opened sharply lower on Friday after data showed a lower-than-expected rise in non-farm payrolls in September, raising doubts that the economy is strong enough to absorb an interest rate increase this year.
A small hike in rates could help calm volatile equity markets and start giving the Fed some ammunition to deal with any future economic slowdowns.
The Dow Jones industrial average fell 84.05 points, or 0.52 per cent, to 16,187.96, the S&P 500 lost 14.19 points, or 0.74 per cent, to 1,909.63 and the Nasdaq composite dropped 58.21 points, or 1.26 per cent, to 4,568.88.