U.S. stocks ended sharply higher on Friday, booking their fourth straight daily gain, after a weaker-than-expected jobs report added to expectations that the Federal Reserve would carry out rate cuts as soon as July.

The S&P 500 rose 1% to end near 2,873. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 263 points, or 1%, to finish around 25,983, based on preliminary numbers. The Nasdaq Composite advanced 1.7% to 7,742. The Dow snapped a six-week losing streak. The U.S. economy added 75,000 jobs in May, falling short of the 185,000 expected by analysts.

The disappointing data heightened expectations for the Federal Reserve to ease policy, with senior policymakers suggesting this week they could cut rates if the economic outlook soured. On trade, news reports suggested the U.S. and Mexico were making progress on an agreement that would keep the U.S. from raising tariffs on Mexican imports. President Donald Trump also said he was optimistic on the prospect of a deal. In company news, shares of Barnes & Noble Inc. climbed 10.8% after the bookseller said it would be acquired by hedge fund Elliot Management Corp.

Source : Marketwatch