World market indices up and down, S&P 500 peaks

The Standard & Poor's 500 Index climbed 2.45, or 0.17 percent, to 1,448.39, its highest level in more than six years, and the Nasdaq composite index advanced 7.50, or 0.30 percent, to close at 2,475.88.

The job figures were the latest in a series of developments last week that indicated the economy is growing solidly without creating excessive inflation.
January jobs report, which showed the country’s joblessness rate at a four-month high of 4.6 percent, came as a surprise on Wall Street. A reading of 4.5 percent had been expected. The Labor Department report signaled employers were more cautious than expected in adding jobs in the new year. The economy added 111,000 jobs last month, below the 150,000 that had been expected.

Chevron Corp. fell 6 cents to $74.53 after the nation's second largest oil company behind Exxon Mobil Corp. posted a drop in its fourth-quarter profit amid lower energy prices. Exxon rose 46 cents to $75.54. Schlumberger Ltd., the largest oilfield-services provider, increased 73 cents to $65.12.

Light, sweet crude settled up $1.72 at $59.02 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Crude prices have risen this week on political concerns in the Middle East, and cold weather in the U.S. Northeast. London Brent crude gained $1.69 to $58.41 a barrel.

The FTSE 100 index of the UK's leading shares closed 28.7 points, or 0.46 per cent higher at 6,310.9, gaining 82.9 over the week, in Frankfurt the DAX index ended at 6885.76 points, up 34.48 or 0.5 per cent, Paris CAC-40 index closed at 5677.30 points, up 15.05 or 0.27 per cent.

The Nikkei gained 27.61 points to 17,547.11, the highest close since last April. The Nikkei posted its third straight weekly gain, edging up 125.18 points this week. APA