Wall Street Ends Mostly Higher After Latest Jobs Data

Wall Street stocks mostly rose on Monday following a mixed session on Asian bourses as markets digested solid US jobs data ahead of key inflation updates later in the week.

Monday's session was the first since the US Labor Department released March employment figures, which showed the economy added 236,000 jobs last month.

This was slightly less than expected, and came as the unemployment rate inched down to 3.5 percent.

Analysts considered the jobs report solid, meaning it could translate into further Federal Reserve interest rate hikes, depending on additional upcoming data.

After sustaining early losses, US equities climbed back as the session progressed. Wall Street had been closed for a holiday on Friday when the data was first released.

The Dow Jones rose 0.3 percent to 33,586, while the S&P 500 gained 0.1 percent, to 4,109, and the Nasdaq dropped 0.03 percent, to 12,084.

The schedule this week includes crucial consumer price and producer price reports – which will provide the latest snapshots of inflation – as well as data on March retail sales.

First-quarter corporate earnings season begins in earnest as well, with reports due from several of the largest banks including JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup. (AFP)