Wall Street closes week with strong gains despite weak jobs report

NEW YORK, New York - A weaker-than-expected jobs report pushed U.S. stocks sharply higher Friday. The Nasdaq Composite led the way, hitting an intra-day new all-time high. Nonfarm payrolls crept up 29,000 in September, well below the 84,000 expected, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said in astatementFriday. The unemployment rate increased to 4.2 percent."This is the exact kind of number the market wanted from a labor standpoint," Phil Blancato, chief market strategist at Osaic told CNBC Friday. "Not too hot, not too cold ... not overly great, and not weakening," he said. TheStandard and Poor's 500rose to7,722.86, up56.41points or0.74 percent, with volume of3.007B. The index traded between a low of7,700.51and a high of7,754.67on the day, within a 52-week range of6,316.91to7,816.70. TheDow Jones Industrial Averageadded250.88points or0.49 percentto close at51,177.44, with volume of537.01M. It moved between50,950.61and51,382.88, within a yearly range of45,057.28to54,744.33. TheNASDAQ Compositewas the session's standout performer, climbing319.27points or1.19 percentto27,190.86, on volume of6.028B. The index traded between27,112.24and27,353.68, and its high for the day matched its 52-week high of27,353.68. Its yearly low stands at20,690.25. U.S. Dollar Mixed Friday as It Gains on Canadian Dollar and Yen but Slips Against Euro, Pound, Aussie The U.S. dollar ended Friday's foreign exchange session with a mixed performance, strengthening against the Canadian dollar and Japanese yen while weakening against the euro, British pound, Australian dollar, and Swiss franc. TheEUR-USDpair stood at1.1259, little changed on the day with again of0.13 percentfor the euro. TheUSD-JPYpair rose to157.83, up0.26or0.16 percent, reflecting a stronger dollar against the Japanese yen. TheGBP-USDpair traded at1.3248, up0.39 percent,with the pound gaining ground on the dollar. TheAUD-USDpair reached0.6959, up0.40 percent, as the Australian dollar advanced. TheUSD-CADpair climbed to1.4252,0.21 percent, with the dollar strengthening against the Canadian dollar. TheUSD-CHFpair stood at0.8286, up0.29 percent, though the move indicated a weaker dollar against the Swiss franc. Investors and traders noted the U.S. dollar's split performance heading into the weekend, with gains concentrated against the loonie and yen while other major currencies held firm or edged higher. Global Markets End Mixed Friday as Asia Slips and Canada, UK, and Europe Rally World stock markets closed Friday's session with a mixed performance, as European indices pushed higher while several major Asian benchmarks retreated. Canadian and UK stocks advanced. In Canada, theS&P/TSX Composite indexgained347.89points or0.99 percentto close at35,502.65, with volume of241.249M. It traded between35,265.16and35,521.49, within a 52-week range of29,530.90to37,069.10. TheFTSE 100in London rose to10,461.95, up33.68points or0.32 percent, trading between a low of10,413.37and a high of10,503.15. The index's 52-week range stands at9,276.90to10,989.50. In Europe, the GermanDAX Pwas a standout performer, climbing to25,231.20, a gain of291.85points or1.17 percent. It moved between24,970.91and25,303.60on the day, within a yearly range of21,863.81to26,618.74. In Paris, theCAC 40added61.88points or0.79 percentto close at7,897.19, after trading between7,836.27and7,927.88. Its 52-week range is7,505.27to8,755.03. TheEURO STOXX 50 Iadvanced63.05points or1.02 percentto6,238.50, fluctuating between6,183.40and6,259.30, with a yearly range of5,376.81to6,577.20. TheEuronext 100 Indexgained16.88points or0.91 percentto reach1,874.38, trading between1,857.93and1,880.21, within a 52-week band of1,643.41to1,984.60. Brussels'BEL 20was the lone European decliner, slipping3.02points or0.05 percentto5,505.65. It traded between5,501.54and5,548.88, with a yearly range of4,774.82to5,905.83. In Asia, the Hong KongHANG SENG INDEXfell sharply Friday, losing640.98points or2.60 percentto close at23,972.29. The index moved between23,865.33and24,099.73, within a 52-week range of22,518.00to28,056.10. Japan'sNikkei 225was among the region's weakest performers, dropping647.26points or0.94 percentto68,309.46. The index moved between68,132.16and68,741.49, within a yearly range of45,042.54to72,831.73. In Singapore, theSTI Indexdeclined32.85points or0.58 percentto5,634.82, after trading between5,624.70and5,686.79. Its yearly range is4,311.65to5,828.50. On the Chinese mainland, going against the trend, theSSE Composite Indexadded11.74points or0.31 percentto3,842.19, with turnover of2.801B. It traded between3,833.09and3,851.22, within a 52-week range of3,741.11to4,258.86. In the Pacific, in Australia, theS&P/ASX 200 [XJO]rose67.70points or0.79 percentto8,682.10, trading between8,614.40and8,682.10, within a 52-week range of8,262.40to9,296.70. The broaderALL ORDINARIES [XAO]added60.30points or0.69 percentto8,854.70, moving between8,794.40and8,854.70, with a yearly range of8,454.90to9,474.80. The neighbouring New Zealand, theS&P/NZX 50 INDEX GROSSfell130.02points or0.94 percentto13,680.49, moving between13,656.18and13,851.11, within a yearly range of12,689.78to14,069.22. India'sS&P BSE SENSEXdropped570.59points or0.79 percentto71,909.70, trading between71,292.88and72,572.90. Its 52-week range spans71,292.88to86,159.02. In Indonesia, theIDX COMPOSITEgained27.39points or0.46 percentto6,036.89, fluctuating between5,979.98and6,053.24, within a yearly range of5,317.91to9,174.47. Malaysia'sFTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCIedged up0.51points or0.03 percentto1,630.87, after trading between1,630.63and1,640.78. Its 52-week range is1,597.68to1,771.25. In Seoul, South Korea, theKOSPI Composite Indexrose32.39points or0.46 percentto7,003.74, with volume of239,009. It traded between6,927.88and7,011.04, within a 52-week range of3,522.54to9,385.59. Taiwan'sTSEC CAPITALIZATION WEIGHTED STadded122.25points or0.25 percentto close at48,475.74, trading between48,205.81and48,491.62. Its yearly range is26,395.98to48,601.53. In the Middle East, most markets were closed and will reopen on Sunday. Israel'sTA-125however traded, finishing flat at4,072.30.It traded between4,069.91and4,110.73, within a 52-week range of3,225.30to4,588.51. In Africa, the South AfricanTop 40 USD Net TRI Indexgained56.94points or0.88 percentto6,514.96, after trading between6,454.38and6,567.59, with a yearly range of6,105.70and above. (This report incorporates quotes retrieved with the assistance of artificial intelligence). 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