Stocks Ended Higher Friday, Posted Weekly Losses

U.S. stocks closed slightly higher on Friday, as a round of positive economic data overshadowed ongoing political uncertainty. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 72.85 points, or 0.29%, to 24,946.51. The S&P 500 added 4.68 points, or 0.17%, to 2,752.01. The Nasdaq Composite rose 0.25 point to 7,481.99. For the week, the Dow fell 1.6%, the S&P 500 fell 1.3% and the Nasdaq lost 1%.

Oil settled higher Friday, following an intraday U-turn that prompted a swing to a weekly gain. April West Texas Intermediate crude rose $1.15, or 1.9%, to settle at $62.34 a barrel. May Brent crude added $1.09, or 1.7%, to end at $66.21 a barrel.

Caterpillar Inc (CAT) will close two facilities in Texas and Panama and is also considering shutting its engine manufacturing plant in Illinois as part of a strategy to boost profitability and better handle business cycles, but the move could cut 880 jobs.