U.S. stocks finish higher despite disappointing employment data

NEW YORK, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Wall Street's major averages ended higher on Friday despite data that showed the U.S. economy lost jobs last month.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 56.84 points, or 0.18 percent, to 31,097.97. The S&P 500 was up 20.89 points, or 0.55 percent, to 3,824.68. The Nasdaq Composite Index increased 134.50 points, or 1.03 percent, to 13,201.98.