The main US stock indices grew moderately against the backdrop of the rebound in the energy sector due to higher oil prices. In addition, the focus was on data on the US labor market.

The US Department of Labor reported that in April, employment growth accelerated sharply, and the unemployment rate fell to an almost 17-year low, which is another sign of tightening labor market conditions. The number of non-agricultural jobs increased by 211,000 jobs, well above the monthly average of 185,000 for this year and sharply higher than the 79,000 increase in March (revised from +98,000). Analysts had expected employment to grow by 185,000. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1%, to 4.4%, reaching its lowest level since May 2007. Experts predicted an increase in unemployment to 4.6%. The average hourly wage rose by 0.3% last month, in part because of calendar shifts. Although this slowed the annual growth from 2.7% to 2.5%, which is the lowest since August 2016, there are indications that wage growth accelerates as the labor market weakens.

The cost of oil futures has increased by almost 2%, partially recovering from yesterday's collapse by almost 5%. However, the current week, oil is preparing to be completed with a decrease of more than 6%. Some support for the oil quotations was made by the representative of Saudi Arabia in OPEC Adib al-Aama. He said that OPEC and non-OPEC countries are close to agreeing on an extension of the deal to reduce oil production.

Most components of the DOW index finished trading in positive territory (21 out of 30). The leader of growth was the shares of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (DD, + 3.12%). More fell shares of International Business Machines Corporation (IBM, -2.50%).

Almost all sectors of the S&P index showed an increase. The leader of growth was the sector of basic materials (+ 2.2%). Only the health sector declined (-0.1%).

At closing:

Dow +0.26% 21.006.94 +55.47

Nasdaq +0.42% 6,100.76 +25.42

S & P +0.41% 2,399.29 +9.77

U.S. stock-index futures rose, supported by sound data on the U.S. labour market for April.

Stocks:

Nikkei -

Hang Seng 24,476.35 -207.53 -0.84%

Shanghai 3,103.36 -24.01 -0.77%

S&P/ASX 5,836.56 -39.81 -0.68%

FTSE 7,252.56 +4.46 +0.06%

CAC 5,388.25 +15.83 +0.29%

DAX 12,646.00 -1.78 -0.01%

Crude $45.53 (+0.02%)

Gold $1,231.50 (+0.24%)

(company / ticker / price / change ($/%) / volume)

Europe's benchmark stock index closed at almost 21-month high on Thursday, boosted by a round of well-received earnings reports from heavyweights such as Royal Dutch Shell PLC and HSBC Holdings PLC.

Stocks finished little changed Thursday, after a choppy session of trade as the energy sector tumbled in sync with a drop in crude oil and House Republicans took a step to begin rolling back Dodd-Frank reforms and Obamacare.

Slumping commodities prices in China sent stock markets there lower Friday, leading declines across the region as investors feared that the nation's crackdown on speculation and borrowing could hurt metals demand.