YAHOO [BRIEFING.COM]: After enduring a choppy session, the S&P 500 settled higher by 0.4% to end the week with a gain of 1.2%. The Nasdaq outperformed the benchmark average throughout the day as the tech-heavy index advanced 0.8%.

The outperformance of the Nasdaq was largely due to the relative strength of biotech as the iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF (IBB 180.02, +5.13) settled higher by 2.9%. The sharp gains in biotech also provided support for the health care sector, which ended atop the leaderboard.

Meanwhile, other tech stocks traded in mixed fashion. The largest sector component, Apple (AAPL 452.97, -3.80), lost 0.8%, but many other large cap names ended with modest gains. Chipmakers also finished among the outperformers after NVIDIA (NVDA 14.54, +0.63) beat on earnings and revenue. The broader PHLX Semiconductor Index rose 0.7%.

While the Nasdaq spent the entire day in positive territory, the Dow and S&P 500 underperformed as commodity-related sectors lagged.

The energy space was the biggest laggard as the sector lost 0.5%. Lower price of crude oil contributed to the sector weakness as the energy component slipped 0.6% to $95.86 per barrel. Oil was down as much as 3.1% at the start of today's session, but was able to pare its losses intraday.

Similar to oil, metals sold off early, but regained some of their losses into the afternoon. Gold closed down 1.8% at $1442.80 per troy ounce while silver shed 0.7% to end at $23.75 per troy ounce. Copper also displayed losses early, but ended the session with a gain of 1.2% at $3.38 per pound.

The weakness in metals pressured the materials sector early on, but the group was able to climb off its lows to end flat.

Notably, the industrial sector underperformed despite the strength of transportation-related stocks. The Dow Jones Transportation Average added 0.6%.

Cyclical groups were led by the discretionary sector. Retailers outperformed notably after Gap (GPS 40.99, +2.18) reported better-than-expected April same store sales. The broader SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT 76.45, +1.08) settled higher by 1.4%.

Homebuilders also provided support for the discretionary sector as the SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF (XHB 31.91, +0.44) ended higher by 1.4%.

Today's economic data was limited to the April Treasury Budget, which showed a surplus of $112.90 billion. This was better than the surplus of $112 billion expected by the Briefing.com consensus.

Week in Review: S&P 500 Climbs to New Record Highs

On Monday, April retail sales and retail sales ex-auto will be reported at 8:30 ET while March business inventories will be released at 10:00 ET. Week in Review: S&P 500 Climbs to New Record Highs On Monday, the major averages ended on a mixed note as the S&P 500 rose 0.2% while the Dow Jones Industrial Average shed five points. With no economic news of note and two major foreign markets closed (Japan and the United Kingdom), investors reacted to quarterly earnings. The now-familiar pattern of anemic top-line growth remained in effect as quarterly results from Sysco (SYY 34.20, +0.04) and Tyson Foods (TSN 24.75, -0.13) missed their marks. The results weighed on the third-best performing sector of the year as the SPDR Consumer Staples Select Sector ETF (XLP 41.16, +0.16) ended lower by 0.7%.

Tuesday saw equities settle with modest gains as the S&P 500 rose 0.5% to close at a new all-time high while the Dow notched its first close above 15,000. The energy sector charged out of the gate as EOG Resources (EOG 133.58, -2.50) displayed notable strength after beating on revenue. The growth-sensitive sector ended with a solid gain even as crude oil ended lower by 0.7% at $95.47. Most other cyclical sectors finished ahead of the broader market and the Dow Jones Transportation Average outperformed as well. The bellwether complex advanced 1.6% to a fresh record high as 18 of 20 components settled in the black.

On Wednesday, the S&P 500 settled higher by 0.4% to register its fifth consecutive gain. Cyclical sectors appeared weak during the opening minutes, but most economically-sensitive groups were able to rebound, and finish in the lead. The materials space displayed strength from the start as industrial metals traded higher after China reported a wider-than-expected trade surplus. Gains in copper were notable as the red metal advanced 1.7% to 3.361 per pound.

Thursday saw the S&P 500 register its first lower close of the week. The benchmark average sank to its lows amid afternoon speculation that a well-known reporter, who is considered to be a Fed-insider, may be hinting at changes to the Federal Reserve's quantitative easing program. Although equities fell after the rumors began making the rounds, the earlier gains were shaky at best as declining issues outpaced advancers. The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX 12.78, -0.35) settled higher after spending the entire day in positive territory, suggesting downside protection was in demand throughout the session.DJ30 +35.87 NASDAQ +27.41 SP500 +7.03 NASDAQ Adv/Vol/Dec 1659/1.65 bln/837 NYSE Adv/Vol/Dec 1900/630.5 mln/1100

3:30 pm :

• June crude oil extended yesterday's losses, falling to a session low of $93.37 per barrel as a stronger dollar pressured the commodities space. However, the energy component rallied sharply as it headed into the close and settled at $96.00 per barrel, or just below its session high of $96.23 per barrel. Today's weakness brought the week's gains down to 0.4%.
• June natural gas began the floor session in positive session but pulled back from its session high of $4.00 per MMBtu and fell into the red. It trended lower for the remainder of pit trade and settled at its session low of $3.91 per MMBtu, booking a 3.2% loss for the week.
• June gold extended yesterday's losses as the stronger dollar continued to pressure prices. The yellow metal dipped to a pit session low of $1418.50 per ounce but pushed slightly higher in afternoon trade. Gold brushed a session high of $1437.90 per ounce moments before settling at $136.50 per ounce, and booked a 1.9% loss for the week.
• June silver also spent its entire floor session in negative territory. It traded in a consolidative pattern near the $23.30 per ounce level in morning action and picked up momentum as it headed into the close. Silver touched a session high of $23.69 per ounce and settled at $23.65 per ounce, bringing losses for the week to 1.5%.