Hewlett-Packard, McDonald’s and United Technologies led the way up on Friday. Stocks gained amid speculation the Federal Reserve is set to apply further stimulus measures. The market rebounded from less-than-stellar China news. Data from China’s General Administration of Customs showed the country’s exports increased by a meager 1% in July, from a year ago. The result was well shy of forecasts for an 8.6% upswing. Imports expanded by 4.7%, missing expectations of a 7.2% jump. Meanwhile, in U.S. economic news, the Labor Department said that import prices declined 0.6% in July while export prices rose 0.5%. Economists had forecast a 0.1% increase in import prices and an unchanged reading for exports. Elsewhere, crude oil futures shed 49 cents today to settle at $92.87 a barrel.
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