U.S. stocks edged higher Friday

(Oct 8) Stock market opens slightly higher as September jobs report comes in lighter than expected.

Dow gains 0.1%; S&P 500 rises 0.2%, Nasdaq Composite advances 0.3% early Friday.

China tech names mixed in early trading.

Camber Energy surged 30% in early trading.

The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note climbed above 1.6% before the jobs report was out, for the first time since June. It then edged down to 1.58% in recent trading.

The U.S. added 194,000 jobs in September,data showed Friday, substantially less than expected and down from August. Economists had forecast a gain of 500,000 jobs. The end of federal Covid-related jobless benefits and reopened schools drove some workers back into the labor force, but the Delta variant and persistent staffing shortages are restraining the recovery.

“I was surprised at how bad the miss was,” said Shana Sissel, chief investment officer at Spotlight Asset Group.

The Federal Reserve has said the labor market’s recovery is the key variable driving monetary policy and investors are watching closely to see if Friday’s report could affect plans to taper stimulus.

Volatility returned to markets in recent days, with the S&P 500 swinging at least 1% for three out of four days this week. Investors have been focused on surging energy prices, concerns about inflation and negotiations on the debt ceiling. Lawmakers struck a deal for ashort-term extension to the debt limitin the Senate on Thursday, stoking a rally in the stock market.