The Dow finished almost 22 points or 0.2% higher at 10388, while the S&P 500 picked up 0.54% and the Nasdaq finished almost 1% stronger.
By far the biggest story of the day was the surprise improvement in the US unemployment rate. The news sent the Dow more than 140 points higher to post a new 14-month high in the wake of the release.
LONDON - European stock markets rose on Friday on sharply better than expected US employment data that revived hopes of a US recovery accompanied by a decline in joblessness.
The London FTSE 100 index gained 9.36 points, or 0.18 per cent, to close at 5,322.36.
FRANKFURT - Germany's Dax gained 47.3 points, or 0.82 per cent, to 5,817.65 points.
PARIS - The CAC 40 rose 47.51 points, or 1.25 per cent, to 3,846.62.
Oil prices ended the week tumbling to a seven-week low as massive crude supplies and a surging dollar overshadowed encouraging job numbers.
Benchmark crude for January delivery lost 99 cents to settle at $US75.47 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract slumped as low as $US74.85 earlier in the day.
Australian shares are likely to open moderately higher after equities in the US and Europe gained on a report that showed job cuts in the US slowed sharply in November.
At 0654 AEDT on the Sydney Futures Exchange, the December share price index contract was 23 points higher at 4,729.
In economic news, the Australian Industry Group and Housing Industry Association release the Australian Performance of Construction Index for November.
ANZ releases its job advertisements survey for November.
GOLD down 48.80c to US$1169.50 an ounce SILVER down 60.8c to US$ 18.520 an ounce COPPER down 0.75c at US$3.2375 a pound
Today's Financial Calendar December 07 2009
Australia ANZ job ads, Nov US consumer credit, Oct Australia AiG performance of construction, Nov US Fed chairman speaks (CDL) - Ex div. 0.5c (SNL) - Ex div. 4.0c (WBC) - Merger Update (ORE) - Annual General Meeting (10:00 AM) (MVH) - Annual General Meeting (03:00 PM)
