LIVE MARKETS-US stocks strive for strong weekly gains

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U.S. STOCKS STRIVE FOR STRONG WEEKLY GAINS

U.S. stocks are higher, with the S&P 500 .SPX and the Dow .DJI looking set to log their biggest weekly advances since early November, while investors await a wave of policy changes under the incoming Trump administration.

The SPX is now up around 2.8% for the week, while the Dow is surging 3.7%.

The Nasdaq .IXIC, now up >2% WTD, is on pace for its biggest weekly rise since early December.

Nearly all S&P 500 sectors are higher in the early throes of Friday trading with FANG .NYFANG groups leading the way higher. Healthcare .SPXHC is the sole loser.

Under the surface, chip stocks .SOX and regional banks .KRX are outperformers.

Meanwhile, with Friday's strength, the S&P 500 index is down less than 2% from its record highs.

The S&P 500 banks index .SPXBK is down around 0.45% from its record closing high.

Here is a snapshot of where markets stood around 15 minutes into the trading day:

(Terence Gabriel)

FOR FRIDAY'S EARLIER LIVE MARKETS POSTS:

INDIVIDUAL INVESTOR BULLS FLEE AS BEARS MAKE THEMSELVES KNOWN - AAII - CLICK HERE

GRANOLAS OR MAG-7? GS SAYS ONE HAS MORE CRUNCH RIGHT NOW - CLICK HERE

MORE OF THE SAME FOR FRANCE THIS YEAR, SAY BOFA - CLICK HERE

SHARES RISING, FTSE 100 AT RECORD - CLICK HERE

EUROPE BEFORE THE BELL: BAD NEWS IS GOOD NEWS FOR THE FTSE - CLICK HERE

MORNING BID: CAUTIOUS END TO WEEK AS TRUMP INAUGURATION LOOMS - CLICK HERE

(Terence Gabriel is a Reuters market analyst. The views expressed are his own)