LIVE MARKETS-So far, so good

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SO FAR, SO GOOD

U.S. stocks are rallying in the early stages of the final day of the trading week, after the most recent swoon on Thursday confirmed a correction began for the S&P 500 .SPX on February 19.

However, stocks did lose some of the wind in their sails after the preliminary March reading of consumer sentiment from the University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers fell to 57.9, its lowest level since a 57.7 reading in May 2023, from a final reading of 64.7 in February and well short of the 63.1 estimate of economists polled by Reuters as inflation worries have shot higher.

Nearly all of the 11 major S&P sectors are higher, led by tech .SPLRCT and energy .SPNY, while consumer staples .SPLRCS is the sole decliner.

Still, despite the gains, each of the three major indexes are on track for declines of roughly 4% on the week, with the S&P and Nasdaq Composite .IXIC on pace for their fourth straight week of declines, which would mark their longest losing streaks in about seven months.

Below is your early market snapshot:

(Chuck Mikolajczak)

FOR FRIDAY'S EARLIER LIVE MARKETS POSTS:

INDIVIDUAL INVESTOR BULLS AND BEARS JUST DID THIS FOR THE FIRST TIME - AAII - CLICK HERE

MARKETS PRICE IN GERMAN DEBT-TO-GDP RATIO AT 68% - CLICK HERE

LUXURY'S FOURTH QUARTER FALSE DAWN - CLICK HERE

STOXX UP BUT HEADING FOR BIGGEST WEEKLY DROP IN 3 MONTHS - CLICK HERE

EUROPE BEFORE THE BELL: FUTURES HIGHER, STOCKS STILL SET FOR WEEKLY LOSS - CLICK HERE

MARKETS COME UP FOR AIR BUT TARIFF THREATS LURK - CLICK HERE