Stocks Ended Higher, Dow Notched 7th Straight Weekly Gain

U.S. stocks ended higher on Friday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average logging its seventh straight weekly gain. The Dow rose 14.93 points, or 0.07%, to 19,933.81. The S&P 500 climb 2.83 points, or 0.13%, to 2,263.79. The Nasdaq Composite advanced 15.27 points, or 0.28%, to 5,462.69.

New U.S. single-family home sales rose more than expected in November and consumer sentiment hovered near a 13-year high this month, strengthening the view that the economy will gain further momentum next year.

The Commerce Department on Friday said new home sales increased 5.2 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 592,000 units last month. That was the second highest pace since 2007.

Separately, the University of Michigan said its consumer sentiment index edged up to a reading of 98.2 from 98 earlier this month. That was the highest reading since January 2004.

Crude-oil prices on Friday ticked modestly higher, enough to register a 52-week high in abbreviated trade ahead of the holiday weekend. West Texas Intermediate futures ended up 7 cents, or 0.1%, at $53.02 a barrel. Brent crude added 11 cents, or 0.2%, to end at $55.16 a barrel.