U.S. equities gain before manufacturing data

U.S. shares advanced on Friday after the benchmark index S&P 500 recorded its first two-day fall in a three-week period before a government data showed that manufacturing sector improved and amid speculation that Fed may curb stimulus sooner than expected. The S&P 500 Index surged 0.3% to 1,762.14 as of 9:51 a.m. New York tome and it has risen 0.1% this week.