US stock market crashes today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq sink deeper into red territory as unemployment hits 4-year high in November — will markets face bigger losses from here?

Market Overview - U.S. stocks experienced a modest decline as investors reacted to a mixed November jobs report, with the Dow falling 40 points to 48,375 and the S&P 500 easing to 6,805, reflecting pressure on technology and growth stocks [1][14] - The delayed November nonfarm payrolls report indicated the U.S. economy added 64,000 jobs, surpassing Bloomberg estimates of 50,000, but the unemployment rate rose to 4.6%, the highest since 2021, suggesting underlying weaknesses in the job market [2][14] Labor Market Insights - The rise in unemployment, despite job gains, raised concerns about economic momentum, with analysts noting that the labor market may be entering a "hiring recession" [3][13] - The Labor Department reported that unemployment increased due to higher labor force participation and effects from a recent government shutdown, with October payrolls revised to show a loss of 105,000 jobs [5][6] - The number of Americans working part-time for economic reasons rose to 5.5 million, an increase of 909,000 from September, while long-term unemployment stood at 24.3%, indicating persistent challenges in the job market [6][13] Federal Reserve Outlook - The jobs report is critical as it sets the stage for upcoming consumer inflation data, which will influence expectations for the Federal Reserve's rate decision in January [6][14] - Fed Chair Jerome Powell emphasized the need for substantial data before making policy adjustments, with markets divided on whether the central bank will consider rate cuts in early 2026 or maintain a cautious approach [7][14] Stock Performance - Among notable stock movements, Tesla (TSLA) fell over 1%, impacting the Nasdaq, while Nvidia (NVDA) remained steady near $176 after a strong performance in AI-related shares [8][15] - Ford (F) shares rose about 1% following the announcement of a $19.5 billion charge related to its strategic shift away from electric vehicles [8][14] - Smaller-cap stocks like AMC Robotics, Rezolve AI, and Biodexa Pharmaceuticals saw significant movements, indicating ongoing risk appetite in select speculative names despite broader market caution [9][12]