Stock streak hits 6th day as investment diversifies

Healthcare companies, makers of household goods benefit from latest rally

U.S. stocks rose for the sixth day in a row Friday as major indexes continued to set records. The biggest gains went to companies that have been mostly left out of the postelection rally, including health care companies and makers of household goods.

“What we’re seeing today is investors who are fearful they’ll be left behind,” said Kate Warne, investment strategist for Edward Jones. “So it may not be surprising that they’re buying less aggressive stocks and sectors.”

The Dow Jones industrial average climbed 142.04 points, or 0.7 percent, to 19,756.85. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index rose 13.34 points, or 0.6 percent, to 2,259.53. The Nasdaq composite gained 27.14 points, or 0.5 percent, to 5,444.50. The Russell 2000 index of smaller-company stocks edged up 1.71 points, or 0.1 percent, to 1,388.07.

The S&P 500’s six-day winning streak is its longest in 2 ½ years.

Among household goods companies, PepsiCo gained $1.42, or 1.4 percent, to $103.57. Energy drink maker Monster Beverage also rose, as did drugstore chains CVS and Walgreens.

Drug companies bounced back from their recent losses. Those stocks, especially biotechnology companies, were hit hard this week after President-elect Donald Trump said he wants to reduce drug prices.

Technology stocks rose for the sixth consecutive day and completed their best week in a year.

U.S. government bond prices slipped again. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note inched up to 2.47 percent, its highest in about 18 months, from 2.41 percent late Thursday. That yield is used to set interest rates on many kinds of loans including mortgages.

Next week the Federal Reserve will meet for the last time in 2016. Investors expect the central bank to raise its key interest rate, and Wall Street will look for clues about the Fed’s plans for future interest rates.

Benchmark U.S. crude oil jumped 66 cents, or 1.3 percent, to $51.50 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, the international standard, added 44 cents to $54.33 a barrel in London.

Gold lost $10.50 to $1,161.90 an ounce.