NYSE: US stocks climb as investors hunt for bargains

Analysts view a robust labor market as crucial to upholding strong consumer spending.

Financial stocks, which have seen steep selloffs in recent weeks showed gains on Friday. Some of the concern came after goverment-sponsored mortgage-makers Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae reported huge quarterly losses in recent weeks.

Among retailers drawing Wall Street's attention on Black Friday, Circuit City Stores Inc. jumped US$1.06, or 19.5 percent, to US$6.51, while Target Corp. climbed US$3.07, or 5.7 percent, to US$57.17. Wal-Mart Stores Inc, the world's largest retailer, rose US$0.87 to US$45.73.

Advancing issues outnumbered decliners by about 5 to 1 on the New York Stock Exchange, where volume came to 670.4 million shares.

The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies rose 14.73, or 1.99 percent, to 755.03.