US shares higher after NFP data

The Dow opened 82.38 points higher on Friday, extending gains recorded in the previous session after major indices reversed earlier losses.

Wall Street is in the green territory shortly after the opening bell on Friday as market participants digested August’s all-important nonfarm payrolls data.

As of 1515 BST, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.26% at 31,738.80, while the S&P 500 was 0.31% firmer at 3,979.10 and the Nasdaq Composite came out the gate 0.09% stronger at 11,795.36.

Friday’s primary focus will be last month’s nonfarm payrolls report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which revealed hiring in the US came in slightly ahead of estimates, alongside increased labour force participation, although wage growth was a tad short of forecasts.

In seasonally adjusted terms, non-farm payrolls grew by 315,000 in August, while economists had penciled-in an increase of 300,000. Figures for the prior two months were revised lower by a combined total of 105,000, while the rate of unemployment, on the other hand, derived from a separate survey to that for payrolls, moved up by two-tenths of a percentage point in comparison to the prior month to 3.7%.