FTSE 100 Bounces Back as Weak US Job Numbers Eases Rate Hike Expectations

British stocks bounced back on Friday, ending four consecutive sessions of losses, as weak US job numbers tempered expectations for an October Federal Reserve rate hike. The FTSE 100 rose 0.3%, while Germany's DAX and France's CAC 40 indices gained 1.1% and 0.8%, respectively.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that US employers added just 29,000 jobs in September, missing forecasts of 90,000. August's job numbers were revised downward to 133,000 from 162,000, while July's loss was revised to -10,000.

ING noted that markets had priced an October Fed hike as more likely than not, but the weak payrolls data eased those expectations. The next key release will be US inflation data on October 14.