Dollar surges as US jobs figures boost stocks

The US economy added 155,000 jobs in December, broadly in line with analyst estimates, as the dollar reached a two and a half year high against the yen.

Figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics also showed the unemployment rate was unchanged at 7.8%, following an upward revision to 7.75% in November.  US equity markets posted modest gains at the open following the announcement - the Dow Jones rose 0.1% to 13,409 and the S&P 500 opened up 0.1% at 1,460. Having risen 4.1% so far this week, the S&P 500 is on track to post its largest weekly gain for 13 months, driven by Wednesday's 2.5% gain after US lawmakers reached a stopgap deal on the fiscal cliff. In the UK, the FTSE 100 was up 0.6% by mid-afternoon at 6,080, and has gained 2...