US close: Stocks rise after tumultuous week for markets

(Sharecast News) - US stocks managed to finish the week on a positive note after a volatile session following a weaker-than-expected jobs report and comments from the head of the Federal Reserve, who said policymakers were in a holding pattern on interest rates.

After swinging between gains and losses for most of the day, the Dow closed 0.5% higher, the S&P 500 gained 0.6% and the Nasdaq climbed 0.7% - though the three indices finished the week down nearly 3% each.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq hit four- and five-month lows the previous session, respectively, after a tumultuous few days for investors on the back yet more unpredictable moves by Donald Trump regarding tariffs.

On Thursday, the president delayed his proposed 25% tariffs on goods imported from Mexico and Canada that comply with the USMCA trade agreement, a day after he granted a one-month tariff reprieve for automakers. The suspension, which was announced a mere two days after the levies first came into force, will run until 2 April.

"US President Trump's bewildering tariff policy is creating heightened uncertainty and investor concern with hedge funds having liquidated global equity positions at the fastest rate on record," said Axel Rudolph, senior technical analyst at IG.

Jobs report, Powell comments

Friday's primary focus was February's non-farm payrolls report, which revealed hiring in the US rose roughly as expected last month. According to the Department of Labor, in seasonally adjusted terms non-farm payrolls increased by 151,000 in February. Economists had anticipated a gain of 158,000.

The rate of unemployment ticked higher by one-tenth of a percentage point from the month before to reach 4.1%, while labour force participation slipped by two-tenths of a percentage point to 62.4%. Private sector payrolls rose by 140,000, while government payrolls where up by just 11,000. Payroll figures for the prior two months were revised down by a combined 2,000.

At a conference on Friday, Fed chair Jerome Powell said the central bank was happy to "wait for greater clarity" on the economic outlook before it moves again on interest rates.

"The economy is fine. It doesn't need us to do anything, really. And so we can wait," he said.

Market movers

Chipmaker Broadcom was a high riser after posting first-quarter earnings and revenues ahead of consensus forecasts, driven by a 77% year-on-year surge in AI revenue. The company also provided stronger-than-expected guidance for the second quarter.

Walgreens Boots Alliance jumped after agreeing to be bought by private equity firm Sycamore Partners in a $10bn deal. Sycamore will pay $11.45 per share in cash, compared with Thursday's closing price of $10.60.

Fast food outfit Jack in the Box traded higher on the back of first-quarter earnings that came in ahead of analyst expectations.

Shares in embattled server maker Super Micro Computer surged after it finally submitted its long-awaited financials.

Dow Jones - Risers

International Business Machines Corporation (CDI) (IBM) $261.54 5.17%

Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) $46.06 4.14%

McDonald's Corp. (MCD) $321.29 3.52%

Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) $350.83 2.72%

Chevron Corp. (CVX) $156.34 2.22%

Coca-Cola Co. (KO) $71.43 1.38%

Unitedhealth Group Inc. (UNH) $493.48 1.18%

Nike Inc. (NKE) $78.59 1.13%

Procter & Gamble Co. (PG) $175.94 0.74%

Merck & Co. Inc. (MRK) $94.65 0.69%

Dow Jones - Fallers

Walmart Inc. (WMT) $91.72 -3.09%

Boeing Co. (BA) $154.18 -2.68%

JP Morgan Chase & Co. (JPM) $242.28 -1.73%

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS) $559.67 -1.41%

Home Depot Inc. (HD) $376.80 -1.29%

Salesforce.Com Inc. (CRM) $282.89 -1.10%

American Express Co. (AXP) $273.14 -0.88%

3M Co. (MMM) $146.35 -0.44%

S&P 500 - Risers

Gap Inc. (GAP) $23.15 18.84%

Kohls Corp. (KSS) $12.25 8.73%

Dollar General Corp (DG) $81.84 7.35%

Macy's Inc. (M) $14.07 6.35%

CenturyLink Inc. (LUMN) $5.30 5.37%

J. M. Smucker Co. (SJM) $117.35 5.28%

Amer Water Works (AWK) $145.76 5.23%

Advance Auto Parts (AAP) $35.45 5.17%

International Business Machines Corporation (CDI) (IBM) $261.54 5.17%

Western Union Co. (WU) $11.61 5.06%

S&P 500 - Fallers

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) $15.81 -11.97%

VF Corp. (VFC) $19.13 -6.96%

Vulcan Materials Co. (VMC) $220.61 -6.07%

Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) $869.58 -4.73%

Gallagher Arthur J (AJG) $323.89 -4.66%

Bath & Body Works, Inc. (BBWI) $32.62 -4.62%

Macerich Co (MAC) $16.87 -4.04%

Tapestry Inc. (TPR) $74.92 -3.60%

S&P Global Inc Com (SPGI) $496.83 -3.35%

NRG Energy Inc. (NRG) $88.00 -3.35%

Nasdaq 100 - Risers

Qvc Group Inc Series A (QVCGA) $0.28 12.61%

Sirius XM Holdings Inc (SIRI) $25.23 9.42%

Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) $194.96 9.00%

Skyworks Solutions Inc. (SWKS) $72.61 8.85%

PACCAR Inc. (PCAR) $110.06 7.60%

Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (WBA) $11.39 7.55%

Fastenal Co. (FAST) $79.98 6.02%

eBay Inc. (EBAY) $70.51 5.85%

Comcast Corp. (CMCSA) $37.59 5.56%

Henry Schein Inc. (HSIC) $74.59 5.20%

Nasdaq 100 - Fallers

Netflix Inc. (NFLX) $891.11 -7.00%

Intuitive Surgical Inc. (ISRG) $518.26 -6.96%

Costco Wholesale Corp. (COST) $964.31 -6.74%

American Airlines Group (AAL) $13.03 -4.99%

JD.com, Inc. (JD) $42.29 -4.77%

Mercadolibre Inc. (MELI) $2,009.34 -3.87%

Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. (TTWO) $204.33 -3.82%

Booking Holdings Inc. (BKNG) $4,673.38 -3.10%

Meta Platforms Inc. (META) $625.66 -2.93%

Ross Stores Inc. (ROST) $135.96 -2.51%