U.S. blue-chip stocks ended barely higher on Friday as a spike in oil prices to near-record levels pared earlier gains and renewed concerns about the effect of high energy prices on consumer spending and corporate profits. Investors sold off semiconductor-related stocks after Europe's top consumer electronics group Philips predicted much smaller growth for the semiconductor industry next year. Blue chips had risen slightly as government data showed better-than-expected demand in August for durable goods other than transportation equipment, but the climbing oil prices put the brakes on the gains. "Oil is holding us back," said Todd Leone, head of listed trading, S.G. Cowen. "I think oil was a big factor today." The blue-chip Dow Jones industrial average closed up 8.34 points, or 0.08 percent, at 10,047.24. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index ended up 1.75 points, or 0.16 percent, at 1,110.11. The technology-laced Nasdaq Composite Index finished down 6.95 points, or 0.37 percent, at 1,879.48. --More 0032 Local Time 2132 GMT
