Investing.com - U.S. shares opened higher Friday as non farm payrolls beat forecasts and Greek settlement hopes lifted equity sentiment.
Near the open of U.S. trade, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.16%, the S&P 500 index climbed 0.14%, while the Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.33%.
The gains were powered by better than expected non farm payroll figures. The 227,000 increase in payrolls followed a revised 284,000 gain in January that was bigger than first estimated, Labor Department figures indicated.
The median projection of economists in a Bloomberg News survey called for a 210,000 rise in February employment. The jobless rate held at 8.3 percent.
Greece revealed that 95.7% of bondholders cooperated in its debt swap deal, but only after it used an option to force participation.
Holders tendered EUR152 billion of Greek law bonds representing 85.8% in response to the offer to swap their holdings.
The International Swap and Derivative Association determination committee will meet at 1 p.m. London time to determine if a credit event has occurred in Greece.
In addition, euro zone finance ministers will meet at the same time to clarify if the swap was successful enough to warrant the EUR130 billion rescue package for the island nation.
Citigroup gained 0.7% on the economic numbers.
Starbucks added 2.2% after announcing it will launch a home coffee brewing machine.
Molycorp rallied 8.2% after announcing its largest takeover with a buy out of Neo Material in a USD1.3 billion deal.
Handgun maker, Smith & Wesson shot 12% higher after beating third quarter analyst earning estimates.
In mid European trade, the EURO STOXX 50 added 0.09%, France's CAC 40 climbed 0.25%, while Germany’s DAX advanced 0.53%. Meanwhile, in the U.K. the FTSE 100 traded up by 0.28%.
Near the open of U.S. trade, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.16%, the S&P 500 index climbed 0.14%, while the Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.33%.
The gains were powered by better than expected non farm payroll figures. The 227,000 increase in payrolls followed a revised 284,000 gain in January that was bigger than first estimated, Labor Department figures indicated.
The median projection of economists in a Bloomberg News survey called for a 210,000 rise in February employment. The jobless rate held at 8.3 percent.
Greece revealed that 95.7% of bondholders cooperated in its debt swap deal, but only after it used an option to force participation.
Holders tendered EUR152 billion of Greek law bonds representing 85.8% in response to the offer to swap their holdings.
The International Swap and Derivative Association determination committee will meet at 1 p.m. London time to determine if a credit event has occurred in Greece.
In addition, euro zone finance ministers will meet at the same time to clarify if the swap was successful enough to warrant the EUR130 billion rescue package for the island nation.
Citigroup gained 0.7% on the economic numbers.
Starbucks added 2.2% after announcing it will launch a home coffee brewing machine.
Molycorp rallied 8.2% after announcing its largest takeover with a buy out of Neo Material in a USD1.3 billion deal.
Handgun maker, Smith & Wesson shot 12% higher after beating third quarter analyst earning estimates.
In mid European trade, the EURO STOXX 50 added 0.09%, France's CAC 40 climbed 0.25%, while Germany’s DAX advanced 0.53%. Meanwhile, in the U.K. the FTSE 100 traded up by 0.28%.