Markets Right Now: Stock rise ahead of US-China meeting

NEW YORK – The latest on developments in financial markets (all times local):

4 p.m.

Stocks shook off a shaky start and ended higher as investors wait for President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping of China to meet and discuss trade.

Tech and health care companies rose the most Friday.

The price of oil briefly dropped under $50 a barrel for the first time since October 2017. Crude oil prices dropped 22 per cent in November, their worst month in a decade.

Marriott sank 5.6 per cent after disclosing a massive data breach.

The S&P 500 index edged up 22 points, or 0.8 per cent, to 2,760.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 199 points, or 0.8 per cent, to 25,538. The Nasdaq composite rose 57 points, or 0.8 per cent, to 7,330.

Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 3 per cent.

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11:45 a.m.

Stocks are little changed on Wall Street ahead of a highly anticipating meeting between President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping of China on trade.

The price of oil briefly dropped under $50 a barrel Friday but later recovered and was up slightly.

GameStop plunged 6.5 per cent after issuing a weak forecast, and Marriott dropped 5.4 per cent after disclosing a massive data breach.

The S&P 500 index edged up 5 points, or 0.2 per cent, to 2,743.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 16 points, less than 0.1 per cent, to 25,323. The Nasdaq composite rose 23 points, or 0.3 per cent, to 7,296.

Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 3.02 per cent.

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9:35 a.m.

Stocks are opening slightly lower on Wall Street as energy companies slide along with the price of crude oil.

ConocoPhillips sank 1.2 per cent in early trading Friday.

Video game seller GameStop plunged 11.8 per cent after issuing a weak forecast.

Marriott International dropped 5.6 per cent after disclosing a massive data breach.

The S&P 500 index fell less than 1 point to 2,736.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 40 points, or 0.2 per cent, to 25,295. The Nasdaq composite fell 7 points, or 0.1 per cent, to 7,266.

Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 3.01 per cent.