US stocks edged up on Friday after reports on consumer sentiment and housing, but the data gave investors little reason to push past a resistance point at four-year highs. The S&P 500 has risen over five of the past six sessions and is up 8.8 percent for the year. While many analysts have been expecting a pullback, a break above the 1,370 intraday high from June 2008 could trigger more buying as investors fear missing out on further gains.
Over the past four sessions the S&P has hovered around 1,360 and closed at a 9-month high on Thursday, although gains were muted for the week with the index up 0.5 percent. The Dow Jones industrial average gained 21.49 points, or 0.17 percent, to 13,006.18. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index added 4.78 points, or 0.35 percent, to 1,368.24. The Nasdaq Composite Index advanced 10.84 points, or 0.37 percent, to 2,967.82.