STOCKS ended higher after a nervous session ahead of today's employment figures.

Declining issues had a narrow lead on advancers by six to five on the New York Stock Exchange. Volume was moderate at under 400 million shares, down from Wednesday's pace. Broad market indexes were narrowly mixed.

Stocks came under pressure all day from the bond market, which dropped early and spent the day hovering at slightly depressed levels.

Declining issues outnumbered advancers by 1,159 to 1,142 on the New York Stock Exchange, with 815 unchanged. Big Board volume totalled 425.73 million shares as against 428.10 million in the previous session.

The NYSE's composite index rose 0.66 to 350.14. The Standard and Poor's 500- stock index rose 1.64 to 653.64. The Nasdaq composite index fell 0.66 to 1,091.16.

At the American Stock Exchange, the market value index rose 0.47 to 570.31.