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Wednesday, November 4, 2026Nov 4

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Slight gains for stocks in quiet post-holiday day

FILE - This Oct. 2, 2014 file photo shows the facade of the New York Stock Exchange, in New York. U.S. stocks are opening slightly higher Friday, Dec. 26, 2014, in relatively quiet trading the day after Christmas. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)
FILE - This Oct. 2, 2014 file photo shows the facade of the New York Stock Exchange, in New York. U.S. stocks are opening slightly higher Friday, Dec. 26, 2014, in relatively quiet trading the day after Christmas. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File) FILE - This Oct. 2, 2014 file photo shows the facade of the New York Stock Exchange, in New York. U.S. stocks are opening slightly higher Friday, Dec. 26, 2014, in relatively quiet trading the day after Christmas. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

U.S. stocks are posting modest gains after a quiet, post-holiday day of trading.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 23 points, or 0.1 percent, to close at 18,053 Friday.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 index rose six points, or 0.3 percent, to 2,088. The Nasdaq composite rose 33 points, or 0.7 percent, to 4,806.

Biotechnology stocks had some of the biggest gains. Celgene rose 3.4 percent, the most in the S&P 500 index.

Falling oil and natural gas prices helped bolster expectations for stronger consumer spending heading into next year.

Benchmark U.S. crude oil fell $1.11 to close at $54.73 a barrel in New York. Oil is down by nearly half since June.

Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 2.25 percent.