North American stock markets ended the trading week with big gains Friday following jobs reports in Canada and the United States that showed both economies turning out new jobs.

The S&P/TSX Composite Index climbed 90.20 points to close at 8,638.61. For the week, the benchmark index rose 1.4%.

Every TSX sector advanced. Gold stocks led with an advance of 4.1%, while the mining information technology groups rose more than 2%, and health care stocks gained 1.4%.

Gold’s increase came on the heels of a US5.30 an ounce increase in the price of gold futures. Placer Dome shares rose $1.18 to $22.38.

Nortel climbed 26% to $10.45, leading the TSX information technology index higher. IT stocks benefited from a strong fourth-quarter profit report from Swedish telecom equipment maker Ericsson.

Research in Motion rose $2.97 to $121.50, setting a new 52-week high.

Cara Operations shares rose 6% to $7.94, close to the sweetened $8-a-share takeover offer tabled by Cara Holdings.

Shares in Dofasco added 22% to $32.45 after the steelmaker reported a small fourth-quarter profit and declared itself the most profitable steelmaker in North America.

Commercial printing giant Quebecor World fell $1.22 to $24.79 after it announced more job cuts and a quarterly loss.

ATS Automation shares fell 21% to $11.04 after the autoparts maker posted a third-quarter loss of $1.6 million — due largely to the stronger Canadian dollar and a one-time charge to account for higher Ontario corporate taxes.

On Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 97.48 points to end the week at 10,593.03. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index climbed 44.45 points to 2,064.01.

For the week, the Dow advanced 1%, while the Nasdaq slipped 0.1%.

The Canadian dollar rose 0.64¢ to US75.36¢.