U.S. stocks ride economic data to weekly gains, S&P 500 closing at its highest level since June 2008
from MarketWatch.com - MarketPulse
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- U.S. stocks on Friday veered nearly unchanged to tally weekly gains that had the S&P 500 closing at its highest level since June 2008. Another round of better-than-expected reports on consumer confidence and housing offset worries about crude oil's rise above $109 a barrel. "The market has rallied in the face" of rising energy prices, said David Rolfe, chief investment officer at Wedgewood Partners in St. Louis, Mo. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell nearly 2 points to end at 12,982.95, leaving it up 0.3% for the week. The S&P 500 rose 2.28 points, or 0.2%, to 1,365.74, also gaining 0.3% from the week-ago close. The Nasdaq Composite climbed 6.77 points, or 0.2%, to 2,963.75, rising 0.4% for the week.