Markets Right Now: Jobs, Brexit progress send stocks higher
The latest on developments in financial markets (All times local):
4 p.m.
Stocks are ending higher as investors welcome a strong U.S. jobs report and progress in Britain's talks about leaving the European Union.
Health care stocks rose more than the rest of the market Friday. Alexion Pharmaceuticals jumped 7.2 percent after The New York Times reported that an activist hedge fund has taken a stake in the company.
European markets rose. In addition to advances in the Brexit talks, investors were also relieved that Germany moved closer to forming a coalition government.
The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 14 points, or 0.6 percent, to 2,651.
The Dow Jones industrial average climbed 117 points, or 0.5 percent, to 24,329.