The ADP
report for August showed the weakest private-sector hiring since January, with
38,000 jobs added against forecasts of 47,000; manufacturing lost 17,000
positions and professional services shed 16,000, though education and health
added 45,000.
Initial jobless claims rose to 206,000 for the
week ended August 29, just above estimates, with the four-week average climbing
to 207,250.
Market
watchers see this as a mildly dovish sign for the Fed, potentially easing rate
hike pressure ahead of Friday's official payrolls report expected to show
53,000 jobs added and unemployment steady at 4.1%.
