04:10 PM EDT, 04/05/2024 (MT Newswires) -- US equity markets ended higher Friday as traders took a consequential jobs report in stride.

* The US Department of Labor reported the US economy added 303,000 nonfarm payroll jobs in March, significantly higher than the consensus for 214,000. Hourly earnings jumped 0.3% and the March unemployment rate was 3.8%, both in line with forecasts.

* A US appeals court ruled Friday that the Department of Justice can re-open its antitrust investigation into the National Association of Realtors, Bloomberg reported. The US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit rejected a bid by the NAR to enforce a 2020 settlement with the Trump administration to end the probe, according to the report.

* May West Texas Intermediate crude oil closed up $0.14 to $86.73 per barrel, while June Brent crude, the global benchmark, was last seen up $0.31 to $90.96.

* Tesla (TSLA) shares were down 3.6% after a report earlier in the day that the company was shelving plans to build a cheaper electric vehicle. Chief Executive Elon Musk denied the report.

* GCT Semiconductor ( GCTS ) shares surged 40% after the company entered a preliminary agreement with Aramco to further develop Saudi Arabia's 4G/5G ecosystem for mission-critical and public safety networks.

Price: 164.82, Change: -0.08, Percent Change: -0.05