U.S. stocks gained on Friday on news the European Central Bank is considering setting targets in a new bond-buying program that could help contain euro-zone borrowing costs and on hopes of more stimulus from the Federal Reserve. Despite the day's advance, the S&P 500 broke a six-week string of gains.
For the week, the benchmark index fell 0.5 percent loss. Conflicting perceptions of the Fed's commitment to provide more stimulus took a toll on the market this week. Investor sentiment received a lift on Friday from U.S. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, who said the Fed has room to deliver additional monetary stimulus to boost the U.S. economy. Bernanke made the comment in a letter to a congressional oversight panel.
