Stocks Post Modest Gains as Job Losses Slow

Investors will have fewer economic reports to drive trading next week. A report due Friday on consumer sentiment will draw attention because traders are eager for any signals about how consumers will spend heading into the holiday season.

However, earnings reports from retailers including J.C. Penney Co., Macy's Inc. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. will give investors more insight into how consumers are likely to behave in the coming months. Walt Disney Co.'s earnings may also provide clues about consumers.

Investors will also be tracking the ability of the government to raise money. The Treasury Department plans to auction $81 billion in debt next week. Analysts are watching for signs that demand is weakening for government debt because that could threaten stimulus spending and push interest rates higher.

In corporate news, Starbucks Corp. jumped $1.42, or 7.2 percent, to $21.12 after the coffee chain said late Thursday that its fourth-quarter profit rose and raised its fiscal 2010 earnings forecast because of an increase in customers.

GE advanced 90 cents, or 6.2 percent, to $15.33 after analysts raised their expectations for the company.

The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 0.80, or 0.1 percent, to 580.35.

Overseas, Britain's FTSE 100 rose 0.3 percent, Germany's DAX index rose 0.1 percent, and France's CAC-40 slipped less than 0.1 percent. Japan's Nikkei stock average rose 0.7 percent.

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The Dow Jones industrial average closed the week up 310.69, or 3.2 percent, at 10,023.42. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 33.11, or 3.2 percent, to 1,069.30. The Nasdaq composite index rose 67.33, or 3.3 percent, to 2,112.44.

The Russell 2000 index, which tracks the performance of small company stocks, fell 17.58, or 3.1 percent, for the week to 580.35.

The Dow Jones U.S. Total Stock Market Index — which measures nearly all U.S.-based companies — ended at 10,863.26, up 341.68, or 3.3 percent.

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