Payrolls fall 36,000; jobless rate steady at 9.7%

Date: Fri, Mar 5, 2010 at 12:00 PM

PAYROLLS FALL 36,000; JOBLESS RATE STEADY AT 9.7%
U.S. non-farm payrolls decline for the 25th time in the past 26 months, falling
by a shallower-than-forecast 36,000 in February to 129.5 million, according to
Labor Department estimates.

U.S. STOCK GAINS ACCELERATE, LED BY ENERGY
U.S. stocks rise Friday, with energy particularly strong, as the government's
report of fewer job losses in February than expected boosts sentiment.

TREASURYS DROP AFTER REPORT SHOWS FEWER JOBS LOST
Treasury prices fall on Friday, pushing short-term yields up by the most in
more than a month, after the Labor Department said the U.S. economy lost fewer
jobs than economists predicted.

OIL TOUCHES $82, FIRST TIME IN NEARLY TWO MONTHS
Crude-oil futures top $82 a barrel Friday for the first time in about seven
weeks, as a shallower drop in U.S. jobs buoyed hopes for higher energy demand.