The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday edition that U.S. stocks ended sharply lower on Thursday as Federal Reserve officials took a cautious approach in comments on the outlook for interest-rate cuts, while investors braced for Friday's key U.S. monthly jobs report. A Reuters dispatch to The Globe says that investors also weighed comments by U.S. President Joe Biden, who demanded an immediate ceasefire in a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the Gaza war. Oil prices climbed on the geopolitical tensions, which helped to limit losses on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Among the comments by Fed officials, Minneapolis Fed president Neel Kashkari said that at the U.S. central bank's meeting last month he pencilled in two rate cuts in 2024, but added that if inflation continues to stall, none may be required this year. Earlier on Thursday, Richmond Fed president Thomas Barkin said the U.S. central bank has "time for the clouds to clear" on inflation before starting to cut rates. The S&P/TSX Composite Index ended down 60.67 points at 22,051.79, giving back some earlier gains that had lifted the index to a new record high of 22,239.05. U.S. crude oil futures settled higher at $86.59 (U.S.) a barrel.