1. Dow looks to extend winning streak to five sessions
Dow futures really started to soar — pointing to about a 750-point advance at Friday's open — after the government's May jobs report was much better than feared. Nonfarm jobs last month rose 2.5 million. Estimates had called losses of 8.3 million jobs. The nation's unemployment rate last month declined to 13.3%, still a high number but a far cry better than the 19.5% that had been forecast.
Thursday's jobless claims were slightly higher than expected, while the ADP's May private-sector job losses were much lower than expected. Taking a four-session winning streak into Friday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was tracking for a 3.5% weekly advance as economic reports started to show the beginnings of a bounce back from coronavirus lockdowns.
2. U.S. coronavirus cases tick up since Memorial Day
Coronavirus cases in the U.S. have been slowly increasing since Memorial Day, according to a CNBC analysis of data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. New daily Covid-19 infections have risen to 21,763, based on the latest seven-day average, from just over 20,600 on May 28. New daily cases hit a peak of 31,578 in early April.
CDC Director Robert Redfield said Thursday he's "very concerned" the agency's public health message on the coronavirus isn't "resonating." Testifying before a House panel, Redfield said he sees "a lot of people" not wearing masks in Washington, where he works.
3. Total U.S. Covid-19 infections approach 1.9 million
Total cumulative coronavirus cases in the U.S. approached 1.9 million on Friday, according to Johns Hopkins' data, with 108,211 deaths. Brazil, Russia, the U.K., and Spain round out the top five countries. Global cases neared 6.7 million, with 391,570 fatalities.
4. Theme parks reopen; NBA gets ready to restart
Comcast's Universal reopens its Orlando, Florida, theme parks to the public Friday. Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios and the Volcano Bay water park will be operating with a reduced capacity among other coronavirus safety measures. Last week, Disney received approval from the state of Florida to reopen its four Orlando-based theme parks starting July 11.
The National Basketball Association has approved a plan to restart its season on July 31, in a closed environment in Orlando. The proposal still needs approval from the National Basketball Players Association. It's also contingent on an agreement with Walt Disney World Resort, which will host all of the games, practices and housing for the players.
5. Protests turn calmer as George Floyd is remembered
Many of the protests against police brutality following the death of George Floyd were more subdued for a second night as marches Thursday turned into memorials for Floyd. The 46-year-old African American was the focus of a heartfelt tribute in Minneapolis that drew family members, celebrities, politicians and civil rights advocates. At Floyd's service, more than a week after his death, strong calls were made for meaningful changes in policing and the criminal justice system. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told CNBC the U.S. needs to move in a "very strong way to do things differently" to address racial inequality.
— The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
— Disclosure: Comcast owns NBCUniversal, parent company of CNBC.
