U.S. Stocks End Higher after Mixed Jobs Data

U.S. stocks climbed higher on Friday, with the Dow Jones industrial average up for the fifth straight day, as investors blamed severe weather for the disappointing jobs data.

Major indexes were wresting with the break-even line in morning session before finally finding ground, as investors were digesting a mixed jobs report.

According to the closely-watched non-farm payroll report from the Labor Department, the nation's unemployment rate dropped sharply to 9 percent in January, the lowest level in nearly two years. But the economy generated only 36,000 net new jobs, the fewest in four months, much lower than analysts had expected.

Many investors believed the weak number of jobs created was influenced by severe winter weather, but the mixed report did remind the market that the jobs market was still the weakest point in the economy.

Stocks turned higher as the trading day entered its final stretch, boosted by strong earnings from some technology companies.

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 29.89 points, or 0.25 percent, to 12,092.15. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 3.77 points, or 0.29 percent, to 1,310.87 and the Nasdaq was up 15.42 points, or 0.56 percent, to 2,769.30.