Wall Street indexes rise after strong jobs data

U.S. stocks finished higher on Friday after a strong jobs report reinforced the view that the economy remains healthy even as it suggested the Federal Reserve could delay cutting interest rates.

All major S&P 500 sectors advanced, with communication services (.SPLRCL), opens new tab, industrials (.SPLRCI), opens new tab and technology (.SPLRCT), opens new tab among those leading gains.

U.S. Labor Department data showed employers hired far more workers in March than expected and kept steadily lifting wages, suggesting the economy ended the first quarter on solid ground.

The data stoked expectations the Fed will likely delay cutting interest rates given that a recession is nowhere in sight, said Tom Plumb, president and portfolio manager at Plumb Funds in Madison, Wisconsin.

 

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