Slight Gains

Friday’s trading session ended with slight gains. Boeing, Caterpillar, and General Electric led the Dow’s ascent. Brands stepped up amid the release of favorable consumer confidence data from the University of Michigan. In a preliminary reading, the Consumer Sentiment Index for November rose to 84.9, the highest level since July 2007. Economists had expected a smaller jump to 83, from 82.6 in October. In other news, wholesale inventories increased in September. The Census Bureau noted a 1.1% uptick, following an upwardly revised 0.8% lift in August. Economists had anticipated a 0.4% gain. Meanwhile, the Labor Department said that import prices increased 0.5% in October. The result exceeded the flat figure expected by economists. Elsewhere, crude oil tacked on 98 cents to settle at $86.07 a barrel.

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