Amid high inflation and gloomy economic forecasts, U.S. companies are laying off employees en masse. This worries three-quarters of the population of the country, reports RIA "Novosti" with reference to the study conducted by Morning Consult.

A total of 2,200 people took part in the survey. According to its results, 75% of respondents expressed their concern about what is happening. At the same time over 50% of young professionals feel themselves unprotected from job loss. Americans are not confident that the number of jobs in the next six months will grow.

Yesterday's labor market statistics did not add to the upbeat mood either. The number of initial jobless claims over the past week rose by 5,000 to 245,000. During the week from April 2 to April 8, the figure reached the highest since November 2001, Prime news agency reported.

Against this backdrop, the dollar index went from a correction to a fall - by Thursday evening it had lost 0.17%, dropping to 101.49. Gold gained 0.36% to $2014.60, helped most by a weakening U.S. currency.