US stocks rose on Friday, capping a week of solid gains, as investors bought shares of industrial companies like Caterpillar Inc and United Technologies Corp after a government report signalled strength in the sector.
The S&P 500 index registered its sixth straight gain, its longest winning streak since November, and all three major indexes ended near 5-year highs.
A Federal Reserve report showed output from US factories, mines and utilities rose 0.7 percent in February.
"The market is getting confirmation that this economy is stronger than it had thought, and the general industrials reflect that," said Milton Ezrati, senior economic strategist at Lord Abbett & Co.
The Dow Jones industrial average ended up 26.41 points, or 0.23 percent, at 11,279.65. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index gained 1.92 points, or 0.15 percent, to 1,307.25. The Nasdaq Composite Index was up 6.92 points, or 0.30 percent, at 2,306.48.
For the week, the Dow rose 1.84 percent, the Nasdaq gained 1.96 percent and the S&P 500 advanced 2 percent.
The Dow registered its best weekly gains in nearly a month, while the S&P and Nasdaq had their best weekly performances since January.
Declines in Dow components General Motors Corp and American International Group Inc limited a broad market advance.
Trading was choppy as investors adjusted portfolios for the expiration of March futures and options, known as quadruple witching, fund managers said.
Even though much of February's increased output came from a weather-related boost in utility demand, analysts said the Fed data enhanced the appeal of large-cap stocks.
Heavy equipment maker Caterpillar shares rose 1.8 percent, or $1.33, to $76.23 on the New York Stock Exchange, while shares of aerospace and industrial conglomerate United Technologies gained 1 percent, or 57 cents, to $58.80.
Caterpillar shares hit a record high of $76.30. Shares of fellow Dow component Boeing Co rose 1.5 percent, or $1.12, to $77.85 after hitting a record high of $78.08.
GM shares slid 4.9 percent, or $1.09, to $21.13 after it reported its 2005 loss was $2 billion deeper than previously reported.
Shares of AIG, the world's largest insurer by market value, fell 0.6 percent, or 42 cents, to $68.82 after the company posted a 72 percent drop in fourth-quarter profit.
Among the day's gainers, shares of Genentech Inc rose 6.7 percent, or $5.55, to $88.14 after the biotech company raised its current year and five-year earnings growth forecasts.
On the Nasdaq, shares of Sirius Satellite Radio Inc rose 8.4 percent, or 38 cents, to $4.89 after the company said it will be the exclusive provider of the pay-radio service to automaker Volkswagen AG's namesake brand and its premium Audi AG affiliate.
Trading was heavy on the NYSE, with about 2 billion shares changing hands, above last year's daily average of 1.61 billion, while on Nasdaq, about 2.56 billion shares traded, above last year's daily average of 1.80 billion.
Advancing stocks outnumbered declines by a ratio of 9 to 7 on the NYSE and by 8 to 7 on Nasdaq.
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