Stocks Ended Higher amid New Trade Optimism

U.S. stocks ended higher on Friday, after key negotiators cast a positive glow on trade talks. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 114.01 points, or 0.44%, to 25,942.37. The S&P 500 gained 10.68 points, or 0.37%, to 2,881.40. The Nasdaq Composite climbed 6.35 points, or 0.08%, to 7,916.94. For the week, the Dow fell 2.1%, , the S&P saw a 2.2% fall and the Nasdaq shed 3%.

Oil put in a mixed performance Friday, with the U.S. benchmark edging lower, with worries over an escalating trade fight between Washington and Beijing limiting upside. West Texas Intermediate crude for June delivery fell 4 cents, or 0.1%, to settle at $61.66 a barrel and fell 0.5% for the week. July Brent crude rose 23 cents, or 0.3%, to end at $70.62 a barrel, ending 0.3% lower for the week.

U.S. Secretary of Treasury Steven Mnuchin indicated that bilateral talks were “constructive” even though an agreement was not reached.

Uber’s stock began trading Friday on the New York Stock Exchange, under the ticker “UBER.” The offering gave retail investors their first opportunity to buy shares of the ride-hailing market’s leader. Shares opened at $42.00 each, down 6.7% from the initial public offering price. Uber shares closed at $41.60.