Dollar falls, bonds jump after disappointing U.S. hiring

U.S. government bond prices sank and the dollar dipped on Friday following news that U.S. employers added the fewest jobs in a month since December 2013. The stock market was closed in observance of Good Friday.

Traders saw the weaker-than-expected job gains in March as a sign that the Federal Reserve might delay raising interest rates. The rise in bond prices sent the yield on the 10-year Treasury down to its lowest level in two months. Futures contracts on the stock market also fell.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 1.84%. That was down from 1.91% late Thursday. Standard & Poor’s 500 index futures fell 20 points, or 1%. The dollar fell nearly 1 percent against the euro.

Major European stock markets also were closed, while Asian market finished mostly higher.

In Asia, Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 gained 0.6%. Seoul’s Kospi rose 0.8%, while the Shanghai Composite added 1%. Markets were closed for holidays in Germany, France, Britain, Hong Kong, India, Australia and in several Southeast Asian countries.