Financial activities businesses added 7,000 jobs in October, the sector’s first net hiring gain since June, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data released Friday. Securities, commodity contracts, funds, trusts, investments and related activities added 2,900 positions and are up roughly 29,000 from a year ago, while the broader financial services sector remains about 99,000 jobs below its year-earlier level. Commercial banking employment fell by 1,200 and insurance jobs dropped by 5,500. Recruiter Brianne Sterling said investment-banking hiring and senior banker moves have been unusually active, although banks are using artificial intelligence to handle more work with fewer employees. The KBW Nasdaq Bank Index was about 12% below its August high but remained up more than 4% year to date.