Stocks ended sharply higher after a bullish employment report reflected continued strength in the US economy.

The Dow Jones industrial average ended up 136.46 points, or 1.54%, at 9,016.14.

The Nasdaq composite index gained 47.25 points, or 2.42%, to 2,001.58 points.

The charge upward in stocks was led by investors buying up technology shares.

Leading the charge was Intel Corp., up 6 13/16 at 116 5/16 following a big sell-off on Thursday. Microsoft gained 5 1/4 to 127 3/8.

Internet shares were once again on the rise. Online auction company uBid Inc, making its debut, leaped 33 to 48 from its initial public offering price of 15.

Yahoo! jumped 6 3/8 to 190 1/8.

Compaq Computer added 2 1/4 to 38 9/16 while Lucent technology gained 7 3/8 to 95 3/4.