US stocks finish higher extending rally
An American flag is displayed on the New York Stock Exchange in New York, Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
NEW YORK, United States — Wall Street stocks concluded a strong week on a winning note Friday, notching solid gains on good US jobs data and improving sentiment about US-China trade talks.
The world’s largest economy added 177,000 jobs last month, down slightly from the level in March but above analyst expectations.
READ: US hiring better than expected despite Trump uncertainty
Tech earnings
All 11 sectors in the S&P 500 finished in the green. Large and influential tech companies including Microsoft, Facebook parent Meta and Nvidia posted strong gains.
Among individual companies that reported earnings, Apple reported better than expected quarterly earnings, but shares tumbled 3.7 percent as it warned of a $900 million hit in the current quarter due to tariffs.
READ: Apple expects $900-million tariff hit
Amazon slipped 0.1 percent as it reported a nine percent rise in first-quarter revenue, but projected lower than anticipated revenues amid tariffs.
Take-Two Interactive dove 6.7 percent in opening trading Friday as the company pushed back release of Grand Theft Auto VI, the latest instalment of the popular video game series.
