Roundup: U.S. stocks rally after strong jobs report

U.S. stocks ended higher Friday after volatile trading, with all three major indices on a four-day winning streak, as investors sifted through the upbeat jobs report for indications of the country's economic conditions.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 62.87 points, or 0.37 percent, to 17,006.77. The S&P 500 added 6.59 points, or 0.33 percent, to 1,999.99. The Nasdaq Composite Index increased 9.60 points, or 0.20 percent, to 4,717.02.

U.S. total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 242,000 in February, topping market expectations, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.9 percent, the U.S. Labor Department announced Friday.

In February, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls declined 3 cents to 25.35 U.S. dollars, following an increase of 12 cents in January. Average hourly earnings have risen by 2.2 percent over the year.

Analysts said the upbeat jobs data pointed to a modest recovery in the U.S. economy, and create conditions for the Federal Reserve to gradually raise interest rates this year.

"Lots of poor quality jobs might encourage the Fed to raise rate, but falling wages and hours should keep them at bay in March at least," said Chris Low, chief economist at FTN Financial.

Meanwhile, the goods and services deficit was 45.7 billion U.S. dollars in January, up 1 billion dollars from the revised level of 44.7 billion dollars in December, the U.S. Commerce Department reported Friday.

Overseas, Chinese shares have sat on gains for four-consecutive days by closing marginally higher on Friday, sustained by the financial heavyweights. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.5 percent to close at 2,874.15 points.

European equities jumped Friday as investors cheered on the rally in mining stocks. German benchmark DAX index at Frankfurt Stock Exchange moved up 0.74 percent, while British benchmark FTSE 100 Index added 1.13 percent.

On a weekly basis, all three major indices posted solid gains, with the Dow, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq surging 2.2 percent, 2.7 percent and 2.8 percent, respectively.

The CBOE Volatility Index, often referred to as Wall Street's fear gauge, increased 0.96 percent to end at 16.86 on Friday.

In other markets, oil prices rose as U.S. job report came out better-than-expected.

The West Texas Intermediate for April delivery moved up 1.35 U.S. dollars to settle at 35.92 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, while Brent crude for May delivery increased 1.65 dollars to close at 38.72 dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange.

The U.S. dollar decreased against most major currencies as the closely-watched nonfarm payroll report came out mixed.

In late New York trading, the euro rose to 1.0995 dollars from 1.0955 dollars in the previous session, while the dollar bought 114.03 Japanese yen, higher than 113.62 yen of the previous session.

Gold futures on the COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange rose as the U.S. dollar showed weakness.

The most active gold contract for April delivery rose 12.5 dollars, or 0.99 percent, to settle at 1,270.70 dollars per ounce. Enditem