Stocks Mostly Up for the Week on Earnings

U.S. stocks mostly rose on Friday, with two of the major indexes tallying weekly gains, as better-than-expected corporate results overrode global concerns.  Halting a two-week losing run, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 65.16 points, or 0.50%, to 13,029.26, leaving it 1.4% ahead from the week-ago close. The S&P 500 added 1.61 point, or 0.12%, to 1,378.53, up 0.6% for the week. The Nasdaq Composite fell 7.11 points, or 0.24%, to 3,000.45, off 0.4% for the week, its third consecutive weekly slide.

Microsoft Corp.’s share gains on Friday were partly due to high expectations around Windows 8, the new version of its operating system, which analysts see as the company’s chance to shine in a fast-changing computing market.

Apple Inc. is expected to post another strong period of iPhone and iPad sales when it reports results for the March quarter on Tuesday, despite recent worries that have hurt the stock price over the last week.

The International Monetary Fund has won at least $430bn of extra cash to tackle any future crisis in Europe despite international doubts about the eurozone’s economic strategy and fears about how the money would be used.

Labor groups at bankrupt American Airlines said on Friday they support a potential merger with rival US Airways Group Inc in a deal they say would save more jobs than a plan by parent AMR Corp to reorganize as a stand-alone carrier.

Crude futures ended higher Friday, breaking a two-day losing streak and notching modest weekly gains. Crude for delivery in May  rose 78 cents, or 0.8%, to $103.05 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.