US stock markets end week mixed amid Middle East uncertainty

US stock markets closed with mixed results Friday, following huge losses Thursday amid uncertainties in the Middle East.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 237.33 points, or 0.46%, to 51,285.73.

The S&P 500 gained 0.31%, or 23.13 points, to 7,376.86, while the Nasdaq Composite increased 1.09%, or 264.43 points, to close at 24,579.42.

The Volatility Index (VIX), often referred to as the market's "fear index," dropped 9.23% to 25.58.

US commentator Tucker Carlson claimed last week that the Trump administration could be days away from launching a nuclear strike on Iran.

While the world focused on the Middle East, US President Donald Trump said Friday that Washington was holding talks with Iran, claiming the US was in a strong position following the confrontation with Tehran.

"We beat Iran. We are doing very well with Iran, we're talking to Iran," said Trump.

On Friday, the US economy added 165,000 jobs in October, exceeding market expectations of 65,000, while the unemployment rate fell to 4.1%.

Payroll growth accelerated from September's upwardly revised gain of 60,000 and surpassed the average monthly increase of 48,000 over the previous 12 months.

Energy prices ended the week on a downward trend as Brent futures dropped 0.39% to $97.9 per barrel as of 2120GMT, and the European gas index dropped 4.3% to €86.8 ($96.7).

Gold also posted a negative trend, with the price per ounce at $4,065, down 0.65%.

European stocks end week in red

European stock markets closed lower across the board, as the pan-European Stoxx Europe 600 index fell 1.00% to 648.33 points.

Britain's FTSE 100 fell 1.01% to 10,673.94, Germany's DAX 40 decreased 1.92% to 25,820.36, and France's CAC 40 dropped 0.81% to 8,139.00.

Italy's FTSE MIB went down 0.90% to close at 50,052.96, while Spain's IBEX 35 fell 0.60% to close at 19,369.50.