How the major stock indexes fared Friday

[December 11, 2010]  (AP) -- An encouraging trade report and signs that a tax cut package would pass the Senate sent stocks edging higher Friday. The government reported that the U.S. trade deficit fell to its lowest level in nine months in October.

Growing demand for American goods overseas pushed exports to their highest level in more than two years. The S&P 500 index closed at another high for the year, the third straight day it has done so.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 40.26, or 0.4 percent, to 11,410.32.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 7.40, or 0.6 percent, to 1,240.40.

The Nasdaq composite index rose 20.87, or 0.8 percent, to 2,637.54.

For the week:

• The Dow is up 28.23, or 0.2 percent.

• The S&P is up 15.69, or 1.3 percent.

• The Nasdaq is up 46.08, or 1.8 percent.

For the year:

• The Dow is up 982.27, or 9.4 percent.

• The S&P is up 125.30, or 11.2 percent.

• The Nasdaq is up 368.39, or 16.2 percent.

[Associated Press]

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