Markets Close Week With Gains

The extreme mood swings on the U.S. stock market seem to have stabilized a bit at the end of one of the most volatile weeks in Wall Street history. The Dow climbed 97 points minutes after the opening bell and managed to hold on to modest gains by day’s end, closing up 126 points. While financial stocks opened high, they dipped slightly in the late afternoon. Industrial and energy stocks saw the biggest daily gains following good reports on retail sales and consumer spending. Investors have taken notes throughout the wild week, particularly on consumer behavior—a key component in gauging economic recovery.