US stocks higher after jobs report boost

Wall Street ended the first week of the third quarter with a respectable gain today, shaking off early losses as investors found signs of strength in the government’s June employment report.

For the most part, investors were relieved to hear that the unemployment rate held steady at 4.5% in June for the third straight month, as expected, and that 132,000 jobs were added – fewer than in May, but slightly higher than the average forecast.