Though hotter-than-expected jobs data threw the market for a loop this morning, investors seemed to shake off concerns by the end of the day. The Dow erased its midday losses to finish 34 points higher, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq pared steeper deficits to finish marginally lower. For the week, all three major benchmarks closed with solid gains. Meanwhile, despite all the early-morning hand-wringing, Wall Street's "fear gauge," the Cboe Volatility Index (VIX), closed at its lowest level since April. 

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI - 34,429.88) added 34.9 points, or 0.1% for the day, and 0.2% for the week. Nike (NKE) paced the gainers with a 1.3% win, while Salesforce.com (CRM) finished at the bottom of the list for the second day, losing 1.7%.  

The S&P 500 Index (SPX - 4,071.70) dipped 4.9 points, or 0.1% for the day, but added 1.1% for the week. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq Composite Index (IXIC - 11,461.50) shed 21 points, or 0.2% for today's session, and tacked on 2.1% for the week.

Lastly, the Cboe Volatility Index (VIX - 19.06) lost 0.8 points or 3.9% for the day, and 7% for the week.

GOLD, OIL RISE FOR THE WEEK

Oil prices settled lower today, amid news that the European Union (EU) agreed to put a $60 price cap on Russian oil, as investors look ahead to Sunday's Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC+) meeting. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude for January delivery fell $1.24, or 1.5%, to settle at $79.98 a barrel for the day, though the front-month contract still added 4.9% for the week. 

Gold futures dipped today following yesterday's surge, after jobs data strengthened the U.S. dollar. February-dated gold fell $5.60, or 0.3%, to settle at $1,809.60 an ounce for the day, though the commodity still jumped 3.2% for the week. 

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