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NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. stocks opened higher on Friday after a better-than-expected jobs report lifted investor optimism on the economy.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. employment fell for a third straight month in August, but the drop was far less than expected and private hiring surprised on the upside, easing pressure on the Federal Reserve to prop up economic growth.

Hurricane Earl battered North Carolina’s coast with rain, winds and waves Friday and swirled up the U.S. eastern seaboard toward New England and Canada as a weakened but still dangerous storm.

The US shed 54,000 jobs in August as the government dismissed more temporary census workers, but a rise in private sector employment offered hope that the economy could fend off a second recession

Traders are piling into risky bets after a better than expected US labour market report reinforced hopes that the US economy can avoid sliding back into recession.

The oil group said the costs associated with the Gulf of Mexico oil spill have risen by $2bn in the last month to $8bn and that it expected the relief well currently under construction to be completed by mid-September

European and Asian shares are slightly higher as investors are cheered by positive economic data from the US and a third straight session of gains on Wall Street

(Reuters) – Stock index futures pointed to a slightly lower open on Wall Street on Friday, with futures for the S&P 500 down 0.21 percent, Dow Jones futures down 0.17 percent and Nasdaq100 futures flat at 0725 GMT (3:25 a.m. ET).

MELBOURNE/TORONTO (Reuters) – Chinese and other investors have approached at least one big Canadian pension manager about a bid for Canada’s Potash Corp to rival BHP Billiton’s $39 billion hostile offer.

Hurricane Earl began to strafe North Carolina’s barrier islands with dangerous surf and winds on Thursday as it spun parallel to the U.S. East Coast on a northward trek toward New England and Canada.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Stocks rose on low volume on Thursday as data showed improvement in housing and the job market a day ahead of the critical monthly payrolls figures.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Pending sales of previously owned U.S. homes rebounded unexpectedly in July and new claims for jobless benefits fell last week, helping quell fears the economy could face a double-dip recession.

Hurricane Earl took aim at North Carolina on Thursday and was on track to lash its barrier islands with dangerous winds and pounding surf before cutting a path up the U.S. East Coast.