The benchmark S&P 500 posted back-to-back weekly gains for the first time since early July while the euro headed for its best week in nine months against the U.S. dollar and gold marked its biggest weekly rise in six weeks.
The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> closed up 166.36 points, or 1.45 percent, at 11,644.49. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> gained 20.92 points, or 1.74 percent, at 1,224.58. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> added 47.61 points, or 1.82 percent, at 2,667.85.
NYMEX-NEW YORK, Oct 14 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures settled at a three-week high on Friday, regaining strength after two days of losses, on a jump in retail sales and rising hopes that the euro zone debt crisis would be contained.
U.S. monthly retail sales rose 1.1 percent in September, better than forecast, and adding to recent data showing that the economy was on the mend, although slowly.
On the New York Mercantile Exchange, crude for November delivery
CBOT-SOYBEANS-Soybean futures on the Chicago Board of Trade closed higher for a fifth straight session, buoyed by a setback in the U.S. dollar, firm cash markets and hopes that China might buy more U.S. soy, traders said.
Market also lifted by long soy/short corn spreading amid tightening U.S. soybean stocks.
FCPO-JAKARTA, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures extended gains to hit a two-week high on Friday and posted a near 5 percent increase this week, as a positive export outlook and expectations of Chinese soy re-stocking, offset economic uncertainty.
Benchmark December palm oil futures
Traded volumes were 10,894 lots of 25 tonnes each, versus 8,095 lots on Thursday.
REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock markets gained on Friday as hopes of progress on the euro zone's debt problems helped ease concerns about the global economy and flood-hit Thai stocks steadied.
Investors locked in quick profits in some markets that pulled stocks in Malaysia <.KLSE> and Indonesia <.JKSE> slightly lower, while Singapore <.FTSTI> erased some of its early gains, ending up 0.4 percent.
Flows were mixed, with Jakarta reporting $19 million in outflows, Kuala Lumpur taking in 108 million ringgit ($34.5 million) in inflows and Bangkok posting $21.8 million in inflows, according to Thomson Reuters and stock exchange data.
Singapore's central bank eased monetary policy on Friday by containing the future pace of gains in its currency.
