Stocks Close Week with Big Gains

U.S. stocks extended their gains to a third session on Friday, as energy shares continued to rebound, in the wake of the Federal Reserve’s reassurance that the rate increases would be slow and measured. the Dow Jones industrial average rose 26.65 points, or 0.15%, to 17,804.80, the S&P 500 gained 9.42 points, or 0.46%, to 2,070.65 and the Nasdaq Composite added 16.98 points, or 0.36%, to 4,765.38.

U.S. inflation will likely still be “well below” the Federal Reserve’s 2-percent target next year, but that won’t stop the central bank from raising interest rates, a top policymaker said on Friday.

Staples Inc. (SPLS) provided on Friday an update to the findings of its investigation into the data-security incident that allowed access to customer payment information for about a month through mid-September.

T-Mobile US Inc. on Friday agreed to pay at least $90 million to settle a Federal Trade Commission civil lawsuit that alleged the wireless carrier inflated customers’ bills with bogus third-party charges.

The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday announced the first federal guidelines for disposing of coal ash, instructing power plants to implement safeguards against contaminating nearby water supplies.