NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rose in choppy trading on Friday as investors grappled with conflicting monthly jobs data, with the Dow industrials boosted after Wal-Mart said it was buying back more of its shares.
Government data showed employers cut fewer jobs than expected in May, but the unemployment rate jumped to 9.4 percent, the highest since July 1983, from 8.9 percent in April.
The Dow Jones industrial average gained 52.84 points, or 0.60 percent, to 8,803.08. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index rose 2.36 points, or 0.25 percent, to 944.82. The Nasdaq Composite Index added 1.84 points, or 0.10 percent, to 1,851.86.
