U.S. stocks traded higher Friday, after opening at new intraday records, as investors attempt to close out a holiday-shortened week on a positive note, a day after a report on strong retail sales helped the Nasdaq to finish above 9,000 for the first time.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 59 points, or 0.2%, to 28,680, the S&P 500 index gained 4 points, or 0.1%, at 3,243, while the Nasdaq Composite index rose 2 points, or less than 0.1%, to 9,024. All three benchmarks set new intraday highs Friday morning.

On Thursday, the Dow rose 105.94 points or 0.37% to 28,621.39, notching its ninth gain of the past 11 trading days to post a year-to-date rise of 22.69%.

Source : Marketwatch