NEW YORK, April 6 (Xinhua) -- U.S. stocks extended gains for the week as Wall Street digested a slew of economic data and corporate news.

In the week ending April 5, the Dow rose 1.91 percent, the S&P 500 advanced 2.06 percent and the Nasdaq gained 2.71 percent.

Friday's market was upbeat, mainly fueled by the better-than-expected jobs data.

Ten of the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors closed higher, with energy and utilities up 1.69 percent and 1 percent, respectively, leading the gainers. Materials decreased 0.05 percent, the only decliner among the groups. As of Friday, the S&P 500 has notched a 7-day winning streak.

U.S. total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 196,000 in March, the Department of Labor reported on Friday. Economists polled by Dow Jones expected a reading of 175,000.

Notable job gains occurred in health care and in professional and technical services, according to the department. The unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.8 percent.

A separate report by the Labor Department on Thursday showed U.S. initial jobless claims, a rough measure of layoffs, registered 202,000 in the week ending March 30, a decrease of 10,000 from the previous week's revised level. The reading touched the lowest level since 1969. Economists polled by MarketWatch had forecast a 216,000 print.

The data followed a batch of bullish manufacturing figures earlier this week.

Economic activity in the U.S. manufacturing sector expanded in March, data released Monday by the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) showed.

According to the latest Manufacturing ISM Report on Business, the March purchasing managers' index (PMI), which gauges the performance of the manufacturing sector, increased to 55.3 from the February reading of 54.2, beating market consensus.

Meanwhile, the PMI for China's manufacturing sector came in at 50.5 in March, up from 49.2 in February, the National Bureau of Statistics said.

Positive data from major economies have eased worries of a possible global economic slowdown, experts noted.

However, U.S. ISM non-manufacturing index fell to 56.1 in March from 59.7 in February, somewhat clouding the market. The figure represents continued growth in the non-manufacturing sector, but at a slower pace.

On the corporate side, shares of Walgreens Boots Alliance plunged 12.8 percent on Tuesday after the Dow component reported its fiscal second-quarter earnings that missed Wall Street estimates. The firm also slashed its full-year earnings guidance for 2019. The stock declined 13.56 percent for the week.

Tesla shares slumped 8.23 percent on Thursday after the company revealed it delivered less-than-expected new vehicles in the first quarter. The stock posted a 1.75 weekly decrease.

Investors will brace themselves for the upcoming earnings season, which is set to start next week. Enditem

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