Mumbai, Jan. 12 -- The Dow rose 237.96 points (0.5%) to 49,504.07, the Nasdaq advanced 191.33 points (0.8%) to 23,671.35 and the S&P 500 climbed 44.82 points (0.7%) to 6,966.28.

U.S. stocks rallied strongly in the first full trading week of the new year, with the Dow surging 2.3%, the Nasdaq climbing 1.9% and the S&P 500 gaining 1.6%. The upbeat tone came after the Labor Department's December jobs report showed payrolls rising by 50,000, below expectations while the unemployment rate edged down to 4.4%-signs of a gradually cooling labor market that boosted optimism over rate cuts later in 2026.

Gina Bolvin of Bolvin Wealth Management said the data supports a balanced outlook, giving the Fed confidence its policy is working while encoura...