Stocks Shrug Off Comey Report, Leap Triple Digits



U.S. equities traded higher on Friday as concerns about Donald Trump's presidency recede for the time being.

The Dow Jones Industrials Average strengthened 141.82 points to 20,804.84, with Caterpillar outperforming and Johnson & Johnson lagging.

The S&P 500 vaulted 16.01 points to 2,381.73, with industrials leading all 11 sectors higher, as shares of Deere rose 7.3% after posting quarterly results that easily beat expectations.

The NASDAQ jumped 28.57 points to 6,083.70.

Among companies also reporting earnings were Foot Locker and Campbell Soup Company

Trump made his first trip overseas since taking office on Friday, first traveling to Saudi Arabia, which is planning to buy billions of dollars worth of U.S. arms.

Stocks suffered their biggest pullback of the year earlier this week after news that former Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey put together a memo on a conversation with Trump. In this conversation, Trump allegedly asked Comey to stop investigating former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.

In economic news, there were no major data released Friday. However, St. Louis Federal Reserve President James Bullard said the central bank's plans to raise rates may be too fast.

Prices for the benchmark 10-year Treasury note regained lost ground, lowering yields back to Thursday’s 2.23%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.

Oil prices gained 99 cents at $50.34 U.S. a barrel

Gold prices heightened $2.20 at $1,255.00 U.S. an ounce.