S&P 500 ends higher ahead of long holiday weekend

The Dow fell 18.38 points, or 0.05%, to 37,385.97, the S&P 500 gained 7.88 points, or 0.17%, at 4,754.63 and the Nasdaq added 29.11 points, or 0.19%, at 14,992.97.

NEW YORK: US stocks gyrated to a mixed close on Friday as investors headed into the Christmas holiday weekend, having digested cooler-than-expected inflation data which firmed bets for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts in the new year.

All three indices turned less decisive in light trading as the afternoon progressed, after an initial rally on data showing inflation is easing closer to the US central bank's target.