U.S. stocks extended gains on Friday after data showed U.S. employers cut a smaller number of jobs than expected in February, bolstering views the economy was on the brink of creating jobs.

The Nasdaq fared better than the other two indexes, boosted by a 3 percent gain in Apple Inc after it said the first iPad computers will be in U.S. stores in early April.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> rose 75.13 points, or 0.72 percent, to 10,519.27. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> gained 9.66 points, or 0.86 percent, to 1,132.63. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> climbed 22.04 points, or 0.96 percent, to 2,314.35.

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