Stocks Ended Mixed, Dow Marked 2nd Record High

U.S stocks ended mixed on Friday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average notched its second straight record close, as declines in consumer-discretionary shares and technology weighed on the broader market. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 86.52 points, or 0.32%, to 26,743.50. The S&P 500 was down 1.08 points, or 0.04%, to 2,929.67. The Nasdaq Composite fell 41.28 points, or 0.51%, to 7,986.96. For the week, The Dow posted gain of 2.2%, the S&P 500 logged climb of 0.8% and the Nasdaq declined 0.3%.

U.S. oil prices settled firmly higher Friday, as prices bounced around ahead of meeting of major oil producers in Algiers over the weekend. November West Texas crude added 46 cents, or 0.7%, to end at $70.78 a barrel. Global benchmark November Brent added 10 cents, or 0.1%, to settle at $78.80 a barrel.

Prescription drug shortages may drive up prices twice as much as they would rise with medicines in abundant supply, adding $230 million a year to U.S. drug costs, a new study estimates.

Comcast (CMCSA) and Twenty-First Century Fox (FOXA) face a quick-fire auction for British broadcaster Sky (SKYB.L) on Saturday after neither side backed down in a drawn-out $34 billion (26 billion pounds) battle.