Major U.S. stock-indexes soared on Friday after strong jobs data for April indicated a pickup in the economy, which could prompt the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates only toward the end of the year. Nonfarm payrolls in April increased by 223000, just below expectations, while the unemployment rate dropped despite more people entering the job market.

All of the Dow stocks are trading in positive area (30 of 30). Top gainer - The Home Depot, Inc. (HD, +2.64%).

Almost all S&P index sectors in positive area. Top gainer - Healthcare (+1,8%). Top looser - Conglomerates (-0.2%).

At the moment:

Dow 18138.00 +249.00 +1.39%

S&P 500 2111.25 +27.00 +1.30%

Nasdaq 100 4455.25 +52.75 +1.20%

10-year yield 2.12% -0.06

Oil 59.28 +0.34 +0.58%

Gold 1188.30 +6.10 +0.52%

Stock indices closed higher as the Conservatives won the UK's parliamentary election. The Conservative Party with the current Premier Minister David Cameron won 330 seats. It is enough to have a majority in the parliament.

The U.S. labour market data also supported markets. The U.S. economy added 223,000 jobs in April, missing expectations for a rise of 224,000 jobs, after a gain of 85,000 jobs in March. March's figure was revised down from a rise of 126,000 jobs.

The U.S. unemployment rate fell to 5.4% in April from 5.5% in March, in line with expectations. It was lowest level since May 2008.

German industrial production dropped 0.5% in March, missing expectations for a 0.4% rise, after a flat reading in February. February's figure was revised down from a 1.4% increase.

Germany's seasonally adjusted trade surplus narrowed to €19.3 billion in March from €20.0 billion in February. February's figure was revised up from a surplus of €19.7 billion.

The U.K. trade deficit in goods narrowed to £10.1 billion in March from £10.8 billion in February. February's figure was revised down from a deficit of £10.3 billion.

Indexes on the close:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 7,046.82 +159.87 +2.32 %

DAX 11,709.73 +301.76 +2.65 %

CAC 40 5,090.39 +123.17 +2.48 %

The U.S. Commerce Department released wholesale inventories on Friday. Wholesale inventories in the U.S. rose 0.1% in March, beating expectations for a 0.3% gain, after a 0.2% increase in February. February's figure was revised up from a 0.3% rise.

The increase was driven by lower wholesale sales. Wholesale sales declined by 0.2% in March.

Inventories of durable goods increased 0.5% in March, while inventories of non-durable goods declined by 0.4%.

Statistics Canada released the labour market data on Friday. Canada's unemployment rate remained unchanged at 6.8% in April. Analysts had expected the unemployment rate to rise to 6.9%.

The number of employed people dropped by 19,700 jobs in April, missing expectations for a loss of 5,000 jobs, after a 28,700 rise in March.

The loss was driven by a drop in part-time jobs. Part-time employment in April plunged by 66,500 jobs, the biggest loss since March 2011, while full-time work rose by 46,900.

Retail and wholesale employment decreased by 20,500, construction employment fell by 28,400, while 18,900 people left the labour force.

The labour participation rate fell to 65.8% in April from 65.9 in March.

The Bank of Canada monitors closely the labour participation rate.

U.S. stock futures rallied after a rebound in hiring last month bolstered optimism that economic growth is accelerating, but not fast enough to warrant higher interest rates in June.

Global markets:

Nikkei 19,379.19 +87.20 +0.45%

Hang Seng 27,577.34 +287.37 +1.05%

Shanghai Composite 4,206.76 +94.55 +2.30%

FTSE 7,028.75 +141.80 +2.06%

CAC 5,043.59 +76.37 +1.54%

DAX 11,569.59 +161.62 +1.42%

Crude oil $59.39 (+0.76%)

Gold $1184.60 (+0.19%)

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

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) released its quarterly Statement of Monetary Policy on Friday. The RBA revised its forecast for GDP growth for 2015 to 2.5%, compared with 2.25-3.25% in the RBA's previous estimate. The forecast for 2016 was lowered to 2.75% - 3.75 %, down the previous estimate of 3.00% - 4.00%.

The RBA revised its inflation forecast for 2015 to 2.5% from its previous estimate of 2.0% - 3.0%. The inflation forecast for 2016 was cut to 1.75% - 2.75 %, down the previous estimate of 2.00% - 3.00%.

Australia's central bank it offered no clear signal for further interest rate cut. But the RBA reiterated that further depreciation of the Australian dollar is "both likely and necessary".

The RBA cut its interest rate to a new record low of 2.00% this week, down from 2.25%. It was the second interest rate cut this year.

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) released housing starts data on Friday. Housing starts in Canada decreased to a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 181,814 units in April from a revised reading of 189,546 units in March. March's figure revised down from 189,708 units.

Analysts had expected a decline to 182,000 units.

The CMHC's Chief Economist Bob Dugan said that housing starts activity declined since September 2014 to current stable levels "as builders have adjusted activity to manage inventories".

"This trend is in line with CMHC's expectations for housing starts in 2015," he added.

The U.K. Office for National Statistics (ONS) released trade data on Friday. The U.K. trade deficit in goods narrowed to £10.1 billion in March from £10.8 billion in February.

February's figure was revised down from a deficit of £10.3 billion.

The trade deficit fell as exports rose, while imports declined. Exports of goods climbed by 1.4% in March, while imports declined by 1.0%.

The deficit in trade in goods in the first quarter period rose to £29.9 billion from 29.1 billion pounds in the fourth quarter of 2014.

In the first quarter, exports dropped 3.6%, while imports declined 1.9%.

The total trade deficit, including services, narrowed to £2.82 billion in March from £3.32 billion in February. February's figure was revised down from a deficit of £2.86 billion.

Stock indices traded higher on the results of the UK's parliamentary election. The Conservative Party won the election. It seems that the Conservatives with the current Premier Minister David Cameron will have enough seats to have a majority in the parliament.

German industrial production dropped 0.5% in March, missing expectations for a 0.4% rise, after a flat reading in February. February's figure was revised down from a 1.4% increase.

Germany's seasonally adjusted trade surplus narrowed to €19.3 billion in March from €20.0 billion in February. February's figure was revised up from a surplus of €19.7 billion.

The U.K. trade deficit in goods narrowed to £10.1 billion in March from £10.8 billion in February. February's figure was revised down from a deficit of £10.3 billion.

Current figures:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 7,008.62 +121.67 +1.77 %

DAX 11,467.28 +59.31 +0.52 %

CAC 40 5,000.93 +33.71 +0.68 %

The Swiss Federal Statistics Office released its consumer inflation data on Friday. Switzerland's consumer price index fell 0.2% in April, missing expectations for a 0.1% rise, after a 0.3% increase in March.

The rise was driven by a stronger Swiss franc.

On a yearly basis, Switzerland's consumer price index declined to -1.1% in April from -0.9% in March.

Analysts had expected the consumer price index to remain unchanged at -0.9%.

Chicago Federal Reserve President Charles Evans said on Thursday that the Fed should wait until 2016 to hike its interest rate. But he added that the Fed could raise its interest rate at every monetary policy meeting.

Evans expects that the economy will improve in the second quarter and it will grow 2.5% to 3% this year.

Evans is a voting member of the Federal Open Market Committee this year.

The Fed released its consumer credits figures on Thursday. Consumer credit in the U.S. rose by $20.5 billion in March, exceeding expectations for a $16.0 billion increase, after a $14.8 billion gain February.

February's figure was revised down from a $15.52 billion rise.

The increase was driven by a gain in non-revolving credit. Revolving credit climbed by $4.3 billion in March, while non-revolving credit jumped by $16.2 billion.

The Chinese Customs Office released its trade data on Friday. China's trade surplus rose to $34.13 billion in April from $3.08 billion in March, missing expectations for an increase to a surplus of $39.45 billion.

Exports dropped 6.4% in April on a weak demand, while imports slid 16.2%.

(index / closing price / change items /% change)

Nikkei 225 19,291.99 -239.64 -1.23 %

Hang Seng 27,289.97 -350.94 -1.27 %

S&P/ASX 200 5,645.7 -46.47 -0.82 %

Shanghai Composite 4,112.86 -116.40 -2.75 %

FTSE 100 6,886.95 -46.79 -0.67 %

CAC 40 4,967.22 -14.37 -0.29 %

Xetra DAX 11,407.97 +57.82 +0.51 %

S&P 500 2,088 +7.85 +0.38 %

NASDAQ Composite 4,945.54 +25.90 +0.53 %

Dow Jones 17,924.06 +82.08 +0.46 %