Dow Jones jumps 341 points on strong employment data

NEW YORK, New York - Economic data showing the U.S. economy is in much better shape than thought, and may endure a soft landing rather than a recession, boosted U.S. stocks and the dollar Friday.

Nonfarm payrolls jumped by 254,000 in September, well ahead of a revised 159,000 in August, and above the 150,000 Dow Jones consensus forecast.

The unemployment rate fell to 4.1 percent, down 0.1 percentage point,