How the major stock indexes fared on Friday (AP)

The best week for the stock market in more than two years ended with major indexes nearly unchanged Friday. A surprise drop in the U.S. unemployment rate sent stocks higher in early trading, but the gains fizzled throughout the afternoon. European stock indexes and the euro rose after German Chancellor Angela Merkel made a speech pushing for tighter rules on government spending.

The Dow ended the week up 7 percent, the largest weekly gain since July 2009.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 0.61, or less than 0.1 percent, to close at 12,019.42.

The S&P 500 index slipped 0.31, less than 0.1 percent, to 1,244.28.

The Nasdaq composite index rose 0.73, less than 0.1 percent, to 2,626.93

For the week to date:

The Dow Jones industrial average is up 787.64 points, or 7 percent.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index is up 85.61, or 7.4 percent.

The Nasdaq composite index is up 185.42, or 7.6 percent.

For the year to date:

The Dow is up 441.91 points, or 3.8 percent.

The S&P 500 is down 13.36, or 1.1 percent.

The Nasdaq is down 25.94, or 1 percent.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/stocks/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111202/ap_on_bi_ge/us_wall_street_box

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