From Staff Reports
U.S. stocks finished out their calmest week in a month on Friday with a solid gain: The Dow Jones Industrial Average soared 142.99 points to close at 13,378.87. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index rose 16.87 points to close at 1,479.37, and the tech-laden Nasdaq Composite Index gained 34.99 points to close at 2,576.
The 30-stock Dow now sits 622 points - or 4.7% - below its July 19 record high.
For the week, the Dow posted a 2.29% gain, its best point gain since the week that ended April 20. The 30-stock Dow now sits 622 points - or 4.7% - below its July 19 record high. The S&P (2.31%) and Nasdaq (2.86%) both had their biggest point gains since the week that ended March 23.
Although stocks didn't plunge, like so many other trading sessions, of late, Friday opened up flat. But when government reports were released that demonstrated stronger-than-projected performances in home sales and factory orders, it was enough to fuel a reasonably strong gain.