Money | stock market Jobs, Brexit Progress Send Stocks Higher Health care stocks especially did well Friday By Newser Editors and Wire Services Posted Dec 8, 2017 3:15 PM CST Copied In this Monday, Aug. 24, 2015 file photo, a man walks towards the New York Stock Exchange. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File) Stocks ended higher Friday as investors welcomed a strong US jobs report and progress in Britain's talks about leaving the European Union, the AP reports. Health care stocks rose more than the rest of the market. Alexion Pharmaceuticals jumped 7.2% after the New York Times reported that an activist hedge fund has taken a stake in the company. European markets rose. In addition to advances in the Brexit talks, investors were also relieved that Germany moved closer to forming a coalition government. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 14 points, or 0.6%, to 2,651. The Dow Jones industrial average climbed 117 points, or 0.5%, to 24,329. The Nasdaq composite added 27 points, or 0.4%, to 6,840. Read These Next A game of doorbell ditch turns fatal for 11-year-old. Is India, under hefty tariffs, turning away from the US? Guy accused of snatching hat from boy at US Open IDed as rich CEO. Giuliani injured in high-speed highway crash. Report an error