WHERE Wall Street goes the world's stock markets follow. New US jobs are shoring up investor confidence globally. AFP Photo

NEW YORK (AFP) — Strong US jobs data and positive signals from the US and China on trade talks lifted most global stock markets Friday, with Wall Street ending at record highs.

US employers added 128,000 net new jobs last month, the Labor Department reported, much better than the 80,000 projected by analysts and in spite of the hit from the lengthy General Motors strike.

“The key takeaway from the report is that it is not emblematic of an economy that is on the brink of a recession,” analyst Patrick O’Hare wrote at Briefing.com. “On the contrary, it is emblematic of an economy that is expanding.”

Major US stock indices gained around one percent, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq finishing at records and the Dow within touching distance of a new all-time high.

Bourses in Europe also rose, while stock markets in Asia were mixed.

Investors also were cheered by comments from US and Chinese officials reporting progress in the efforts to finalize the partial trade bargain that President Donald Trump announced three weeks ago.

Chinese Vice Premier Liu He on Friday spoke by telephone with US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, a call both sides described as “constructive.”

However, details remained scarce and the positive statements were almost identical to those made last week.

The US-China trade war has been grinding on for more than a year, leaving investors bouncing between hopefulness and dread depending on the latest indications from both sides.

But Friday’s commentary helped give a lift to the oil market, with the US and European benchmarks winning more than three percent.

“It seems like the phase one deal is most likely going to get certified,” said Ryan McKay of TD Securities. “Markets are trading with a bit of a risk-on to end the week.”

Meanwhile, among companies reporting quarterly results, Exxon Mobil jumped 3.0 percent after posting better-than-expected profits, while Chevron edged up 0.1 percent on results that lagged expectations.

Fitbit, a wearable technology company, surged 15.5 percent after it agreed to be acquired by Google for $2.1 billion.

The move advances Google’s expansion into hardware while Fitbit has struggled against rivals including Apple. Google’s parent Alphabet climbed 1.1 percent.

New York – Dow: UP 1.1 percent at 27,347.36 (close)

New York – S&P 500: UP 1.0 percent at 3,066.91 (close)

New York – Nasdaq: UP 1.1 percent at 8,386.40 (close)

London – FTSE 100: UP 0.8 percent at 7,302.42 points (close)

Frankfurt – DAX 30: UP 0.7 percent at 12,961.05 (close)

Paris – CAC 40: UP 0.6 percent at 5,761.89 (close)

EURO STOXX 50: UP 0.5 percent at 3,623.74 (close)

Tokyo – Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.3 percent at 22,850.77 (close)

Hong Kong – Hang Seng: UP 0.7 percent at 27,100.76 (close)

Shanghai – Composite: UP 1.0 percent at 2,958.20 (close)

Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2937 from $1.2942 at 2100 GMT

Euro/pound: UP at 86.27 pence from 86.17 pence

Dollar/yen: UP at 108.20 yen from 108.03 yen

Brent North Sea crude: UP 3.5 percent at $60.72 per barrel

West Texas Intermediate: UP 3.7 percent at $56.20 per barrel