Markets Post 7th Straight Week of Gains

Claman on Call: FBN’s Liz Claman with an after-hours web exclusive on the markets, the November jobs report and what to expect from the last Federal Reserve meeting of the year.

The markets posted their seventh straight week of gains, with the Dow and S&P 500 soaring to record highs. At one point the Dow was less than nine points away from the 18,000 mark.

53 stocks in the S&P 500 hit lifetime highs on Friday, including 14 consumer-related stocks and 13 in the financial sector.

In an early holiday surprise, non-farm payrolls came in better than expected at 321,000 – analysts had been expecting 230,000. FOX Business spoke with U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez on Friday, he says that we will not see a big drop in employment following the holidays, when most retailers add workers.

Check out FOXBusiness.com/OnCall to see what he says is his number one concern for the labor market.

The last Federal Reserve meeting of the year takes place on Wednesday at 2:30PM ET. Could a strong jobs report prompt the Fed to hike interest rates sooner than expected?

Be sure to check out all of today’s interviews on FOXBusiness.com/OnCall and tune in to Countdown to the Closing Bell every weekday at 3:00PM ET.