US equity markets opened near flat on Thursday, stabilizing after a volatile session as traders positioned themselves ahead of the highly anticipated US non-farm payrolls report.
The cautious tone reflects a market waiting for clarity on the labor market's trajectory before committing to a directional bias for the week.
In Stockholm, the focus remained on Hemnet, the online real estate portal, which continued its sharp decline to hit new all-time lows.
The stock's downward momentum was reinforced by a surge in short selling, with short interest reaching record levels as bears bet on further deterioration in the company's outlook.
The divergence in sentiment highlights the broader risk-off environment affecting growth and cyclical names.
While US indices found a temporary floor, Swedish equities faced specific headwinds, with Hemnet serving as a bellwether for concerns over the property market and consumer spending.