US stocks close week in positive territory, hitting record highs

By Gokhan Ergocun

ISTANBUL (AA) - US stocks closed Friday with gains, while the Dow and S&P 500 closed at record highs, following positive employment data.

The Dow added 0.48%, or 237.96 points, to close at 49,504.07.

The Nasdaq gained 0.81%, or 191.33 points, to end at 23,671.35, while the S&P 500 rose 0.65%, or 44.82 points, to finish at 6,966.28.

The Volatility Index (VIX), also known as the "fear index,” fell 6.21% to 14.49.

The Dow surged 2.3% for the week, while the Nasdaq and the S&P 500 jumped 1.9% and 1.6%, respectively.

The December jobs report showed nonfarm payrolls rose by 50,000 last month, less than the expectation of 73,000.

The unemployment rate inched down to 4.4%, while economists forecast it at 4.5%.

The consumer confidence index measured by the University of Michigan rose to 54 in January, its highest since September 2025.

On the corporate side, the rise in chip manufacturers' shares stood out. Broadcom's shares gained 3.8%, while Intel gained 10.8%.