US stock markets end higher

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(Close): Leading US stocks ended Monday higher, as investors mulled how March's weak jobs report might influence the timing of an interest rate rise by the Federal Reserve.

The Dow Jones rose 117.61 points to 17,880.85.

The Nasdaq added 30.38 points to 4,917.32 and the S&P5 00 gained 13.66 points to finish at 2,080.62.

Microsoft was one of the day's biggest winner, rising more than 3% on a strong analyst note.

Electric carmaker Tesla also saw its share price surge by more than 6% after it reported a 55% increase of its cars in the first quarter.

US budget airline Southwest was the biggest faller on the Dow, dipping more than 4% after it revealed it had given chief executive Gary Kelly a 24% increase in compensation after the firm earned record profits in 2014. Mr Kelly's yearly salary is now $5m.

On the currency markets, the dollar was down 0.50% against the euro at 91.47 cents, and down 0.40% against the UK pound at 67.18 pence.

On Friday, the US Department of Labor said the economy added just 126,000 jobs in March, half the expected figure, and the worst month since December 2013.