U.S. Stocks Open Sharply Higher After Solid Jobs Report

U.S. stocks opened sharply higher with sentiment boosted by nonfarm-payrolls data, which showed a healthy pace of employment gains in April. The U.S. economy added 223,000 jobs last month, while the unemployment rate fell to 5.4%, in line with expectations. The main indexes were on track to finish the volatile week roughly where they started. The S&P 500 opened 20 points, or 1%, higher at 2,108.87. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 175 points, or 1%, to 18,099.35. The Nasdaq Composite began the session 52 points, or 1%, higher at 4,999.