Stocks end mixed as Black Friday unfolds
Stocks end shortened session mixed; investors watch Black Friday to gauge health of retailers
NEW YORK (AP) -- Major stock indexes are ending the day mixed in a holiday-shortened session.
The stock market closed at 1 p.m. Eastern Time Friday, and trade was light. Financials markets were closed Thursday for the Thanksgiving day holiday.
Investors were following sales trends closely on Black Friday, the busiest shopping day of the year. They wanted to get a read on the health of retailers, and the wider economy.
The Dow Jones industrial average eased 10 points to close at 16,086. The Standard & Poor's 500 index edged down one point to 1,805. The Nasdaq composite, however, rose 15 points to 4,059.
November is typically strong for the stock market. This year is no exception. The S&P 500 gained 2.8 percent, the ninth month in 2013 that the index has advanced.
