NEW YORK: US stocks rose on Friday with growth-related shares leading the way as investors focused on a brighter US economic outlook.
A stronger euro and retreating euro zone bond yields also helped investor confidence. Benchmark Italian bond yields held below 7 percent, and Spanish yields also fell. Still, worries persisted over possible sovereign credit downgrades to the euro zone members.
"It is becoming increasingly apparent the (US) economic recovery is becoming self-sustaining," said Jeffrey Saut, chief investment strategist at Raymond James Financial in St. Petersburg, Florida.
"I think we're going to see reallocation (into growth sectors) when it becomes apparent the US is not dipping into another recession."The materials sector was among the top S&P performers, up 1.7 percent. The energy group was up 1.2 percent as US oil futures added 0.5 percent.
Copper prices added 2.1 percent. Gold rallied about 2 percent but was still on course for a weekly loss.
The Dow Jones industrial average put on 86.28 points, or 0.73 percent, at 11,955.09. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index was up 13.78 points, or 1.13 percent, at 1,229.53. The Nasdaq Composite Index jumped 41.46 points, or 1.63 percent, at 2,582.47.
Online game maker Zynga Inc was expected to rise in its Nasdaq debut after pricing its initial public offering at $10 per share, the top end of its range. Shares are expected to begin trading around 11 a.m.
US consumer prices were flat in November as Americans paid less for cars and gasoline, while the 12-month inflation reading fell for the second straight month, which could give the Federal Reserve more room to help a still-weak economy.
Jim Paulsen, chief investment officer at Wells Capital Management in Minneapolis, said subdued inflation will be a long-term positive as consumers benefit from contained prices.
"That's one of the reasons you're seeing better consumer (confidence) of late," he said.
Research In Motion Ltd posted a sharp drop in profit on Thursday, offered a dismal outlook for BlackBerry shipments during the holidays and delayed an overhaul of its smartphones. The US-traded stock dropped 11 percent to $13.47.
Shares of Adobe Systems Inc jumped 7.3 percent to $28.37 after results from the maker of Photoshop and Acrobat software beat Wall Street projections.
Data this week suggested a strengthening US economic recovery, giving further support to equities.
Jobless claims fell to a 3-1/2-year low last week and factory activity in parts of the US Northeast picked up in December, data showed Thursday.
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