Stocks End Mixed but Post Weekly Losses

U.S. stocks ended with mixed on Friday, but posted weekly losses, as a report that had consumer sentiment rising to the highest level in more than five years offset postelection worries about the so-called fiscal cliff. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 4.07 points, or 0.03%, to end at 12,815.39, but declined 2.1% for the week. The S&P 500 rose 2.34 points, or 0.17%, to end at 1,379.85, but declined 2.4% for the week. The Nasdaq Composite climbed 9.29 points, or 0.32%, to end at 2,904.87, but dropped 2.6% for the week.

Consumer sentiment is at the highest level in more than five years, led by brighter views on current conditions, according to data released Friday. The preliminary reading of the University of Michigan/Thomson Reuters consumer-sentiment index rose to 84.9 in November — the highest level since July 2007 — from a final October reading of 82.6, according to the UMich index.

Britain will stop giving financial aid to India by 2015, the government said on Friday, marking a shift in ties between the one-time imperial power and its fast-growing former colony.