Stocks close sharply higher after jobs report

The S&P 500 jumped another 2.6% Friday after a report said the U.S. job market surprisingly strengthened last month, bolstering hopes that the worst of the recession may have already passed.

Economists cautioned that it's just one month of data and that many risks still loom on the long road to a full recovery. But the report gives some credence to the optimism that's been building among stock investors that the economy can climb out of its current hole faster than forecast.That hope has been a big reason for the S&P 500's rally of more than 40% since late March.

The S&P 500 rose 81.58 points to 3,193.93 for its eighth gain in the last 10 days.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 829.16, or 3.2%, to 27,110.98, and the Nasdaq composite rose 198.27, or 2.1%, to 9,814.08.

(Image Credit: AP)