Broad-based gains in employment sent stocks higher today, with the Dow Jones industrials gaining more than 104 points as investors regained some confidence in the economy. However, interest rate concerns remain, and the markets finished mixed for the week.

Stocks in the United States extended their rally with modest gains today.

Stocks regained some momentum today as fresh economic data suggested inflation remains well under control, but volatile oil prices gave investors some pause late in the session.

With the much-ballyhooed initial public offering of Google Inc. behind them and oil chugging to a new record high, investors took a step back today, sending stocks lower.

Wall Street, already beset by worries about the economy and world events, skidded even lower today on news that the head of Iraq’s governing council had been assassinated. The Dow fell more than 100 points.