US stocks end higher, see worst week since September 2024

US stocks turned higher on Friday as investors parsed data showing that the world's largest economy added fewer jobs than expected in February, reinforcing expectations of a monetary easing cycle. Despite the rebound, stocks recorded their worst weekly performance since last September.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.5%, or 222 points, to 42,801 points, but with weekly losses of 2.35%.

Similarly, the S&P 500 Index added 0.55%, or 31 points, to 5,770 points, but recorded weekly losses of 3.1%.

The Nasdaq Composite went up 0.7%, or 126 points, to 18,196 points.

As for the European indices, the STOXX Europe 600 dropped 0.45% to 553.3 points.

The FTSE 100 was flat at 8,679. The CAC 40 lost 0.95% to 8,120 points. The DAX 40 also fell 1.75% to 23,008 points.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 plunged 2.15% to 36,887 points. TOPIX fell 1.55% to 2,708 points.

Brent crude futures for May delivery leapt by 1.3%, 90 cents, to $70.36 per barrel. 

Similarly, US crude futures for April delivery rose 1%, 68 cents, to $67.04 per barrel. Both contracts recorded weekly losses of 3.35% and 3.90%, respectively.

As for gold, April futures contracts dropped 0.45%, or $12.5, to $2,914.1 per ounce, with weekly gains of 2.3.

The US economy added 151,000 jobs last month, an increase from January's revised gains of 125,000 jobs, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data released Friday.