Wall Street major averages rose in Friday's early afternoon trade despite softer-than-expected inflation data, and consumer sentiment dropping to the second-lowest on record. The benchmark S&P 500 (SP500) was last up 0.

U.S. stocks rise, shrugging off data showing consumer have grown gloomier. The S&P 500 is on track for its fifth straight day of gains.

The S&P 500 erased its losses for the year this week, boosted by a slew of bullish factors including cooling inflation and progress on US-China trade.

Wall Street is heading toward the finish of a strong, potentially perfect week as U.S. stocks on Friday drift close to the all-time high they set just a few months earlier, though it may feel like an economic era ago.

Wall Street is heading toward the finish of a strong week as U.S. stocks drift close to the all-time high they set just a few months earlier. The S&P 500 was up 0.1% in early trading Friday and potentially on track for a fifth straight gain.