World Markets Up Modestly Despite US Jobs Cheer

PAN PYLAS

LONDON (AP) — World stock markets rose modestly Friday even though better than expected U.S. jobs data stoked hopes that the world's largest economy may emerge from recession earlier than anticipated — a sign that further gains may prove more difficult than during the recent rally.

On Wall Street, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 27.27 points, or 0.3 percent, to 8,834.78 by midday New York time while the broader Standard & Poor's 500 futures fell 0.6 point, or 0.1 percent, to 941.86.

In Europe, Germany's DAX was up 12.23 points, or 0.2 percent, at 5,077.03 while France's CAC-40 index rose 27.02 points, or 0.8 percent, to 3,339.05. ...