JM,
I don't know how much small rate changes have on the market, but it is all about confidence. When a company posts better than expected results, the stock goes up. When a good number of companies are posting better results the entire market goes up, due to confidence. When unemployment goes up, it results in a lack of confidence.
I will point out that the energy companies are all posting lower results, cutting employment and reducing investment due to the drop in crude. This is a lack of confidence, and just wait for the effect to ripple thru the holders of these stocks, the hedge funds, pension funds and energy investments. The run up in energy has caused many entities to hold more of these stocks, this will result in the market to drop much farther than it has so far.