-- US equity indexes rose on Friday as tech topped sectors, nonfarm payrolls handily beat consensus, and Washington hit Iranian tankers while awaiting a response to its peace proposal.
The Nasdaq jumped 1.7% to 26,247.08, and the S&P 500 climbed 0.8% to 7,398.93. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was little changed, but leaned higher at 49,609.16.
Technology was up 2.7%, leading gainers. Healthcare and utilities were among the steepest decliners.
In company news, Akamai Technologies (AKAM) reported Q1 non-GAAP net income above market expectations while sales rose. Chief Executive Tom Leighton said a US-based entity committed $1.8 billion over seven years for the company's cloud infrastructure services. Shares of Akamai soared 27%, the top gainer on the S&P 500.
Monster Beverage (MNST) offers "outsized" long-term growth potential after reporting "very strong" Q1 and April performance, Morgan Stanley said in a Friday note. Shares of Monster Beverage surged 14%, among the biggest outperformers on the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq.
Nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 last month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said Friday, beating the 65,000 gain expected in a Bloomberg-compiled survey. The increase in March was revised up by 7,000 to 185,000, while the fall in February was adjusted to 156,000 from 133,000, the BLS said.
Most US Treasury yields fell, with the 10-year down 3.4 basis points to 4.36% and the two-year rate lower by three basis points to 3.89%.
The US expects a response from Iran on a proposal to end the war on Friday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, adding he hopes "it's a serious offer," CNN reported.
Meanwhile, US forces disabled two Iranian-flagged unladen oil tankers on Friday that were attempting to dock at an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman in violation of the US blockade, US Central Command said in a social media post on X, formerly Twitter. According to President Donald Trump, a ceasefire is still in effect, CNN reported.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said "Iranians never bow to pressure" and "every time a diplomatic solution is on the table the US opts for a reckless military adventure," according to a report from the Associated Press.
West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures fell 0.1% to $94.74, giving up intraday gains. Brent crude futures increased by 0.5% to $100.57, also off session highs of more than 1%.
Further in economic news, US consumer sentiment continued to fall in May, with the main sentiment index dropping to an all-time low of 48.2 from April's 49.8, according to the University of Michigan's preliminary survey on Friday. The print marked the third consecutive monthly retreat. Wall Street expected a 49.5 print, according to a Bloomberg-compiled poll.
The year-ahead inflation outlook dropped to 4.5% this month from 4.7% in April, according to the Michigan survey. The current outlook is still above the 3.4% reading reported in February, before the start of the Iran war. The five-year inflation forecast fell to 3.4% from 3.5%.
In precious metals, gold futures advanced 0.4% to $4,730.1, and silver futures climbed 1% to $80.96.