TODAY'S TOP STORIES

Stocks saw considerable volatility over the course of the trading session on Friday but managed to close mostly higher. The tech-heavy Nasdaq showed a strong move to the upside, ending the session at its best closing level in over four months.

After showing a lack of direction earlier in the session, stocks have moved mostly higher over the course of the trading day on Friday. The tech-heavy Nasdaq has helped lead the advance, jumping to its best intraday level in over four months.

After moving sharply higher over the course of the previous session, stocks have shown a lack of direction over the course of the trading day on Friday. The major averages have spent the day bouncing back and forth across the unchanged line.

Revised data released by the University of Michigan on Friday showed consumer sentiment in the U.S. improved by slightly more than initially estimated in the month of January. The report showed the consumer sentiment index for January was upwardly revised to 64.9 from the preliminary reading of 64.6. Economists had expected the index to be unrevised.

After reporting decreases in U.S. pending home sales for six straight months, the National Association of Realtors released a report on Friday showing pending home sales unexpectedly rebounded in the month of December. NAR said its pending home sales index jumped by 2.5 percent to 76.9 in December after tumbling by 2.6 percent to a revised 75.0 in November.

Personal income in the U.S. increased in line with economist estimates in the month of December, according to a report released by the Commerce Department on Friday. The report said personal income inched up by 0.2 percent in December after rising by a downwardly revised 0.3 percent in November.

Following the rally seen over the course of the previous session, stocks may move back to the downside in early trading on Friday. The major index futures are currently pointing to a lower open for the markets, with the S&P 500 futures down by 0.4 percent.

Ukraine has claimed to have shot down most of dozens of missiles and drones launched by Russian Thursday. In the latest round of Russian attack, around 70 missiles were sent by Russian forces targeting cities across Ukraine. The Ukrainian Armed Forces said in its daily operational update on Facebook that its troops intercepted 47 of them.It also said that 18 Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones were s

Integrated energy company Chevron reported Friday that profit for the fourth quarter increased 25 percent from last year, reflecting 17 percent revenue growth amid higher realizations and higher margins on refined product sales. Adjusted earnings per share missed analysts' estimates, while quarterly revenues topped it.

Personal Income and Outlays for December, Consumer Sentiment for January as well as Consumer Sentiment for January are the major economic announcements on Friday. Intel, and Visa will be announcing quarterly results after the bell today. The latest reports showed that the U.S. economy gained 2.9...

Eurozone M3 money supply growth eased more than expected in December and credit to the private sector grew at a slower rate, the European Central Bank said on Friday, suggesting that the interest rate hikes are starting to take effect on the real economy.

The United States has imposed sanctions against individuals and entities linked to Russia's para-military Wagner Group and its head, Yevgeniy Prigozhin. Those targeted include Wagner's key infrastructure and associated front companies, its battlefield operations in Ukraine, producers of Russia's weapons, and those administering Russia-occupied areas of Ukraine. Announcing the State Department'

The Food and Drug Administration's independent advisory committee unanimously recommended replacing the current original COVID vaccines used in the U.S. for primary shots with new bivalent omicron shots authorized as boosters, reports said. The committee also considered the proposal for annual COVID vaccination, however, didn't vote on it.

Preliminary estimates for the fourth quarter growth of the Spanish economy and lending data for the euro area are the key data releases on the closing day of this trading week.

Markets in Europe are expected to open on a firm note on Friday and add to Thursday's gains as markets weigh the latest growth data from the U.S. as well as the health of the corporate sector.