US stock markets
attempted to extend a rally ahead of Christmas holidays with all major indexes
closing higher. On Friday Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1% or 124.35
points and finished at 12,294. S&P 500 Index climbed
0.9% or 11.33 points reaching 1,265.33 while Nasdaq Composite
Index advanced 0.7% or 19.19 points to 2,618.64.