Wall St. up a bit despite retail

Retail sales fell 16.4% in April, but oil prices’ rally aids energy stocks.

Stocks capped another wobbly day of trading on Wall Street with modest gains Friday, though the S&P 500 still ended with its biggest weekly loss in nearly two months.

The benchmark index rose 0.4% after falling 1.3% earlier in the day as investors weighed more grim data showing how badly the coronavirus pandemic is crippling the economy, including the government’s report that U.S. retail sales sank a record 16.4% in April.

The S&P 500 ended down 2.3% for the week, its worst showing since late March and its third weekly loss in the last four.

The Dow gained 0.3% Friday, while the Nasdaq composite added 0.8%.

Energy stocks rose as crude oil prices climbed. Benchmark U.S. crude oil for June delivery rose $1.87, or 6.8%, to settle at $29.43 a barrel Friday.

Brent crude oil for July delivery rose $1.37, or 4.4%, to $32.50 a barrel.

Communications, health care and technology stocks accounted for much of the gains as investors continued to bet on internet providers, health insurers and other companies seen as being less affected by the stayat-home orders that have hurt so many other types of businesses.

Chipmakers were among the biggest losers after the U.S. government moved to impose new restrictions on Chinese tech giant Huawei.

Lam Research was the biggest decliner in the S&P 500, losing 6.4%. Qualcomm fell 5.1%. Bonds yields rose.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury note, a benchmark for interest rates on many consumer loans, rose to 0.64% from 0.61% late Thursday.