April 4 (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures held onto

losses on Friday as investors assessed nonfarm payrolls data for

March to gauge the health of the world's largest economy.

A Labor Department report showed the U.S. economy added

228,000 jobs last month, compared with economists' estimate of a

rise of 135,000. The unemployment rate stood at 4.2%, compared

with expectations of 4.1%.

Average monthly earnings rose 0.3% in the previous month,

compared with expectations of a 0.3% rise.

At 08:31 a.m. ET, U.S. S&P 500 E-minis were down 145

points, or 2.67%, Nasdaq 100 E-minis were down 540

points, or 2.89%, Dow E-minis were down 1,094 points,

or 2.68%.