Wall Street's most watched gauge of investor anxiety rose to a three-week high on Friday as stock indexes sold off following a an upbeat jobs report that pushed back market expectations for further Federal Reserve interest rate cuts.

U.S. stock indexes held firmer and finished mixed a day after strong reports on the economy stirred up worries that inflation and interest rates may remain higher than expected.

Global stock markets were mixed on Thursday as Wall Street remained closed to honor the late former President Jimmy Carter. The U.S. stock market was closed Thursday in observance of a National Day of Mourning for Carter who died at the age of 100 late last month.