Markets Right Now: US stocks finish higher

The latest on developments in financial markets (All times local):

4:00 p.m.

Stocks are closing higher on Wall Street, driving several of the major indexes to new highs.

Retailers and consumer goods companies led the gainers. Energy stocks fell along with the price of crude oil. Utilities declined as bond yields rose.

Lowe's rose 3.5 percent after naming three new directors.

American Express slid 1.8 percent after the company suspended its share buy-back program for six months.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 12 points, or 0.4 percent, to 2,810.

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 53 points, or 0.2 percent, to 26,071. The Nasdaq composite added 40 points, or 0.6 percent, to 7,336.

Bond prices fell. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 2.64 percent, the highest level in more than three years.

___

11:45 a.m.

Stocks are mostly higher on Wall Street in midday trading as gains by retailers and consumer goods companies outweighed losses in other sectors.

Technology stocks were among the biggest decliners Friday. Energy companies fell along with the price of crude oil.

Lowe's rose 2.7 percent after naming three new directors.

American Express sank 2.6 percent after the company suspended its share buy-back program for six months.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 3 points, or 0.1 percent, to 2,801.

The Dow Jones industrial average lost 47 points to 24,969, weighed down by a drop in IBM. The Nasdaq composite rose 23 points, or 0.3 percent, to 7,318.

Bond prices fell. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 2.64 percent, the highest level in more than three years.

___

9:35 a.m.

Stocks are opening slightly higher on Wall Street as consumer-focused companies and banks post gains.

Lowe's rose 1.5 percent in early trading Friday after naming three new directors, and Amazon rose 1.2 percent following reports that it would raise the price of monthly Prime memberships.

American Express sank 2.6 percent after the company suspended its share buy-back program for six months.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 6 points, or 0.2 percent, to 2,804.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 4 points to 26,023. The Nasdaq composite rose 25 points, or 0.4 percent, to 7,322.