US Stocks Rise After Job Report

U.S. stock futures rose Monday following a strong jobs report and ahead of fresh data that is expected to show recovery in the U.S. services sector.

Futures tied to the S&P 500 gained 0.5%, indicating that the broad market gauge could rise after the New York opening bell. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures climbed 0.7% and Nasdaq-100 futures added 0.5%.

Stock markets Monday will have their first chance to react to Friday’s jobs report, which showed that U.S. hiring surged in March as the economic recovery accelerated. Employers added a seasonally adjusted 916,000 jobs in March, the best gain since August.

The fast pace of hiring is likely to bolster hopes for a stronger economic rebound and continue driving investors to stocks hardest hit by the pandemic.

Investors have focused on the pace of hiring for signs of a strong economic rebound after measures to contain the spread of Covid-19 restricted business activity, causing some to lay off workers last year.

New applications for unemployment benefits have trended down since then and Friday’s report offered signs that hiring may be picking up again.