Analysis: The US labor market experiences a sudden "cold snap," with February's non-farm payrolls unexpectedly recording negative growth.

U.S. employers unexpectedly cut jobs in February, and the unemployment rate rose, raising questions about the health of the labor market. Nonfarm payrolls fell by 92,000 last month, after a strong start to the year, according to data released Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The unemployment rate climbed to 4.4%. The decline in employment partly reflects a reduction in healthcare jobs due to strikes. Following the data release, spot gold and silver rose across the board, as traders increased bets on at least one more rate cut by the Federal Reserve in 2026. (Golden Ten)