he Dow Jones industrial average gained 122.06 points higher, up 1.17 percent, closing at 10,566.20. The Nasdaq composite index was up 1.48 percent, picking up 34 points to close at 2,326 points. The Standard & Poor's 500 finished the day up 1.4 percent, gaining 16 points to finish at 1,139 points.
The Labor Department said the unemployment rate for February held steady at 9.7 percent.
"I think this number will set the tone for the whole month," Alan Valdes, head of floor operations for Kabrik Trading, told The Wall Street Journal. "I think you'll see volume pick up, and a lot of portfolio managers that have missed out will feel like now is the time to finally get in."
The listed volume on the New York Stock Exchange was 4.13 billion.
The benchmark 10-year treasury fell 21/32 to yield 3.685 percent.
The euro rose to $1.603 from Thursday's $1.3591. Against the yen, the dollar rose to 90.40 yen from Thursday's 89.12 yen.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 index rose 2.2 percent, 223.24 points, to 10,368.96.
In London, the FTSE 100 index rose 1.31 percent, 72.60, to 5,599.76.
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