Indices closed well into green territory on Friday. Alcoa, Caterpillar and Merck stood out among advancers on the Dow. Stocks posted gains on ECB optimism and revised GDP data. The Commerce Department said the U.S. economy expanded by an annual rate of 1.5% in the second quarter, following an upwardly revised 2% increase in the first quarter. Meanwhile, the University of Michigan consumer sentiment index came in at 72.3, in its final reading for July. The results slightly exceeded the consensus view of 72. Elsewhere, crude oil futures tacked on 74 cents to settle at $90.13 a barrel.
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