U.S. stocks edge up but post weekly losses SP, D

U.S. stocks edge up but post weekly losses
S&P, Dow have worst week since June in terms of percentage drop
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) — U.S. stocks ended with modest gains on Friday, as a report that had consumer sentiment rising to the highest level in more than five years offset postelection worries about the so-called fiscal cliff.

However, the three major stock indexes posted declines for the week, with the S&P 500 and the Dow industrials suffering their worst week since June 1 as measured by their weekly percentage drops.

“It’s hard to be enthusiastic buyers with uncertainty out there,” said David Kelly, chief market strategist at J.P. Morgan Funds.
After a choppy trading session, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI JIA) rose 4.07 points, or 0.03%, to end at 12,815.39, but it dropped 2.1% for the week.

This was Dow’s third consecutive week of losses.

Boeing Inc. (NYSE:BA) and Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) were the top gainers in the blue-chip index, rising 3.2% and 1.5%, respectively.

Walt Disney Co.’s (NYSE IS) shares fell 6%, making the media conglomerate the biggest loser in the Dow and the S&P 500 after its quarterly revenue missed estimates.

The S&P 500 (SNC:SPX) climbed 2.34 points, or 0.2%, to end at 1,379.85, but it declined 2.4% for the week. Technology led sector gains Friday, while utilities performed most poorly among the 10 industry groups.
The Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQ:COMP) added 9.29 points, or 0.3%, to end at 2,904.87, but it dropped 2.6% for the week, posting its fifth consecutive week of losses.

Around 740 million shares traded on the New York Stock Exchange. Composite volume topped 3.6 billion. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-stocks-ex...2012-11-09