Positive Jobs Data and Improved Consumer Confidence Boost US Stock Markets

On Friday, major Wall Street stock markets closed mostly higher following the release of positive jobs data and an improved consumer confidence report. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 227,000 jobs were created in November, slightly exceeding analysts' expectations. Investors also took note of a preliminary report by the University of Michigan, which indicated an improvement in consumer confidence for December.

Despite the Dow Jones Industrial Average decreasing by 0.28% at the closing bell, with UnitedHealth Group Inc. declining by 5.07%, the Nasdaq 100 advanced by 0.92%, and the S&P 500 rose by 0.25%. Notably, Lululemon Athletica Inc. increased by 15.89% on both indexes.

In currency markets, the euro was down 0.22% compared to the dollar, trading at $1.05624 at 3:59 pm ET.