U.S. stocks ended mixed Friday, rising slightly from earlier lows, but failing to gain significantly as rising oil prices dampened the enthusiasm caused by a surprise jump in U.S. home construction figures. Overall, the major indexes ended the week with big gains, and earlier Wall Street responded positively to a U.S. Commerce Department report showing that home construction jumped 8.2 percent in April. But high energy prices, and their effect on the all-important consumer spending that drives the U.S. economy, continued to worry investors. The price of a barrel of oil broke another new record Friday when it hit $127.82. According to preliminary calculations, the Dow Jones industrial average fell 5.86, or 0.05 percent, to 12,986.80. Broader stock indicators ended mixed. The Standard & Poor's 500 index ended up 1.78, or 0.13 percent, to 1,425.35, and the Nasdaq composite index fell 4.88, or 0.19 percent, to 2,528.85. The New York Stock Exchange composite rose 49.49 to close at 9,603.01, and the American Stock Exchange composite climbed 29.14 to finish at 2,375.72. The Russell 2000 closed down 2.21 at 741.17. The price of a barrel of light, sweet crude oil for June delivery rose $2.17 to close at $126.29.
