Weekly Market Update for November 1st - 6th

U.S. stocks ended the week with solid gains. Stock investors seemed more interested in merger activity, better-than-expected retail sales and the Federal Reserve leaving rates unchanged than in the gloomy news on the jobs situation.

And even the unemployment report wasn't all bad. The number of payroll jobs lost in August and September was revised lower, offering a glimmer of hope to some.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (.DJI) rose 17.46 points or 0.2% on Friday to close at 10,023.42. For the week the blue chip index gained 3.2%. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index (.SPX) was up 2.67 points or 0.3% to close at 1,069.30 and notch a 3.2% advance for the week. The Nasdaq Composite Index (.COMP) rose 7.12 points or 0.3% to close at 2,112.44. The technology heavy index rose 3.3% for the week.

By Marketwatch