Stocks Ended Mixed, Posted Weekly Gains

U.S. stocks finished slightly lower on Friday, but logged their largest weekly gains in three months. The Dow industrials fell 21.44 points, or 0.13%, to 16,391.99, gained 2.6% for the week. The S&P 500 was down 0.05 point, to 1,917.78, posted 2.8% up for the week. The Nasdaq Composite gained 16.89 points, or 0.38%, to 4,504.43, posted 3.9% weekly gains.

A rise in the barometer of consumer prices most familiar to Americans has failed to show up in an inflation measure closely watched by the Federal Reserve, making it unlikely the central bank will raise interest rates next month.

Oil futures ended lower Friday. Brent oil slid $1.27, or 3.7%, to end at $33.01 a barrel on London’s ICE Futures exchange, marking a 1.1% weekly decline. On the New York Mercantile Exchange, West Texas Intermediate futures fell $1.13, or 3.7%, to $29.64 a barrel. The nearby contract posted a weekly gain of 0.7%.

Health-insurance costs climbed sharply, according to the latest inflation data released Friday, evidence insurers were able to pass along big premium hikes. According to the Labor Department, health-insurance costs rose 4.8% in the 12 months ending in January, the fastest rise since April 2013.

The U.S. Department of Justice filed a motion seeking to compel Apple Inc (AAPL.O) to comply with a judge’s order for the  company to unlock the encrypted iPhone belonging to one of the San Bernardino shooters, portraying the tech giant’s refusal as a “marketing strategy.”