NEW YORK, New York - A weaker-than-expected jobs report pushed U.S. stocks sharply higher Friday. The Nasdaq Composite led the way, hitting an intra-day new all-time high.

Nonfarm payrolls crept up 29,000 in September, well below the 84,000 expected, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said in a statement Friday. The unemployment rate increased to 4.2 percent. "This is the exact kind of number the market wanted from a labor standpoint," Phil Blancato, chief market strategist at Osaic told CNBC Friday. "Not too hot, not too cold ... not overly great, and not weakening," he said.

The Standard and Poor's 500 rose to 7,722.86, up 56.41 points or 0.74 percent, with volume of 3.007B. The index traded between a low of 7,700.51 and a high of 7,754.67 on the day, within a 52-week range of 6,316.91 to 7,816.70.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 250.88 points or 0.49 percent to close at 51,177.44, with volume of 537.01M. It moved between 50,950.61 and 51,382.88, within a yearly range of 45,057.28 to 54,744.33.

The NASDAQ Composite was the session's standout performer, climbing 319.27 points or 1.19 percent to 27,190.86, on volume of 6.028B. The index traded between 27,112.24 and 27,353.68, and its high for the day matched its 52-week high of 27,353.68. Its yearly low stands at 20,690.25.

U.S. Dollar Mixed Friday as It Gains on Canadian Dollar and Yen but Slips Against Euro, Pound, Aussie

The U.S. dollar ended Friday's foreign exchange session with a mixed performance, strengthening against the Canadian dollar and Japanese yen while weakening against the euro, British pound, Australian dollar, and Swiss franc.

The EUR-USD pair stood at 1.1259, little changed on the day with a gain of 0.13 percent for the euro.

The USD-JPY pair rose to 157.83, up 0.26 or 0.16 percent, reflecting a stronger dollar against the Japanese yen.

The GBP-USD pair traded at 1.3248, up 0.39 percent, with the pound gaining ground on the dollar.

The AUD-USD pair reached 0.6959, up 0.40 percent, as the Australian dollar advanced.

The USD-CAD pair climbed to 1.4252, 0.21 percent, with the dollar strengthening against the Canadian dollar.

The USD-CHF pair stood at 0.8286, up 0.29 percent, though the move indicated a weaker dollar against the Swiss franc.

Investors and traders noted the U.S. dollar's split performance heading into the weekend, with gains concentrated against the loonie and yen while other major currencies held firm or edged higher.

Global Markets End Mixed Friday as Asia Slips and Canada, UK, and Europe Rally

World stock markets closed Friday's session with a mixed performance, as European indices pushed higher while several major Asian benchmarks retreated. Canadian and UK stocks advanced. 

In Canada, the S&P/TSX Composite index gained 347.89 points or 0.99 percent to close at 35,502.65, with volume of 241.249M. It traded between 35,265.16 and 35,521.49, within a 52-week range of 29,530.90 to 37,069.10.

The FTSE 100 in London rose to 10,461.95, up 33.68 points or 0.32 percent, trading between a low of 10,413.37 and a high of 10,503.15. The index's 52-week range stands at 9,276.90 to 10,989.50.

In Europe, the German DAX P was a standout performer, climbing to 25,231.20, a gain of 291.85 points or 1.17 percent. It moved between 24,970.91 and 25,303.60 on the day, within a yearly range of 21,863.81 to 26,618.74.

In Paris, the CAC 40 added 61.88 points or 0.79 percent to close at 7,897.19, after trading between 7,836.27 and 7,927.88. Its 52-week range is 7,505.27 to 8,755.03.

The EURO STOXX 50 I advanced 63.05 points or 1.02 percent to 6,238.50, fluctuating between 6,183.40 and 6,259.30, with a yearly range of 5,376.81 to 6,577.20.

The Euronext 100 Index gained 16.88 points or 0.91 percent to reach 1,874.38, trading between 1,857.93 and 1,880.21, within a 52-week band of 1,643.41 to 1,984.60.

Brussels' BEL 20 was the lone European decliner, slipping 3.02 points or 0.05 percent to 5,505.65. It traded between 5,501.54 and 5,548.88, with a yearly range of 4,774.82 to 5,905.83.

In Asia, the Hong Kong HANG SENG INDEX fell sharply Friday, losing 640.98 points or 2.60 percent to close at 23,972.29. The index moved between 23,865.33 and 24,099.73, within a 52-week range of 22,518.00 to 28,056.10.

Japan's Nikkei 225 was among the region's weakest performers, dropping 647.26 points or 0.94 percent to 68,309.46. The index moved between 68,132.16 and 68,741.49, within a yearly range of 45,042.54 to 72,831.73.

In Singapore, the STI Index declined 32.85 points or 0.58 percent to 5,634.82, after trading between 5,624.70 and 5,686.79. Its yearly range is 4,311.65 to 5,828.50.

On the Chinese mainland, going against the trend, the SSE Composite Index added 11.74 points or 0.31 percent to 3,842.19, with turnover of 2.801B. It traded between 3,833.09 and 3,851.22, within a 52-week range of 3,741.11 to 4,258.86.

In the Pacific, in Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 [XJO] rose 67.70 points or 0.79 percent to 8,682.10, trading between 8,614.40 and 8,682.10, within a 52-week range of 8,262.40 to 9,296.70. The broader ALL ORDINARIES [XAO] added 60.30 points or 0.69 percent to 8,854.70, moving between 8,794.40 and 8,854.70, with a yearly range of 8,454.90 to 9,474.80.

The neighbouring New Zealand, the S&P/NZX 50 INDEX GROSS fell 130.02 points or 0.94 percent to 13,680.49, moving between 13,656.18 and 13,851.11, within a yearly range of 12,689.78 to 14,069.22.

India's S&P BSE SENSEX dropped 570.59 points or 0.79 percent to 71,909.70, trading between 71,292.88 and 72,572.90. Its 52-week range spans 71,292.88 to 86,159.02.

In Indonesia, the IDX COMPOSITE gained 27.39 points or 0.46 percent to 6,036.89, fluctuating between 5,979.98 and 6,053.24, within a yearly range of 5,317.91 to 9,174.47.

Malaysia's FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI edged up 0.51 points or 0.03 percent to 1,630.87, after trading between 1,630.63 and 1,640.78. Its 52-week range is 1,597.68 to 1,771.25.

In Seoul, South Korea, the KOSPI Composite Index rose 32.39 points or 0.46 percent to 7,003.74, with volume of 239,009. It traded between 6,927.88 and 7,011.04, within a 52-week range of 3,522.54 to 9,385.59.

Taiwan's TSEC CAPITALIZATION WEIGHTED ST added 122.25 points or 0.25 percent to close at 48,475.74, trading between 48,205.81 and 48,491.62. Its yearly range is 26,395.98 to 48,601.53.

In the Middle East, most markets were closed and will reopen on Sunday. Israel's TA-125 however traded, finishing flat at 4,072.30. It traded between 4,069.91 and 4,110.73, within a 52-week range of 3,225.30 to 4,588.51.

In Africa, the South African Top 40 USD Net TRI Index gained 56.94 points or 0.88 percent to 6,514.96, after trading between 6,454.38 and 6,567.59, with a yearly range of 6,105.70 and above.

(This report incorporates quotes retrieved with the assistance of artificial intelligence).

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