LIVE MARKETS-US stocks strive for strong weekly gains

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U.S. STOCKS STRIVE FOR STRONG WEEKLY GAINS

The main U.S. indexes are mixed and little changed early on Friday as investors navigate conflicting comments on the U.S.-China trade front despite signs of a possible softening in Beijing's stance.

Meanwhile, on a brighter note, shares of Google-parent Alphabet GOOGL.O are rallying after the company reported upbeat first-quarter results, easing investor worries about returns on hefty artificial intelligence-focused investment.

A majority of S&P 500 .SPX sectors are higher with communication services .SPLRCL, up more than 1% on the back of GOOGL strength, posting the biggest rise. Healthcare .SPXHC, off around 0.7%, is taking the biggest hit.

In any event, the three main indexes are all on track for strong weekly gains. The Dow .DJI is last up a bit more than 2% for the week, the S&P 500 is up nearly 4%, and the Nasdaq .IXIC is advancing more than 5%.

Here is an early market snapshot:

(Terence Gabriel)

FOR FRIDAY'S EARLIER LIVE MARKETS POSTS:

S&P 500 INDEX'S STRONG 3-DAY RUN HAS SET A HIGH BAR - CLICK HERE

EARNINGS IN FULL SWING, WATCHING THE GUIDANCE - CLICK HERE

WHERE IS EUROPEAN EQUITIES' OUTPERFORMANCE AS INFLOWS POUR IN? - CLICK HERE

ALL ABOARD THE YEN TRAIN - CLICK HERE

STOXX RISES ON EASING TRADE TENSIONS, Q1 RESULTS MIXED - CLICK HERE

EUROPE BEFORE THE BELL: FUTURES TICK UP AS TRADERS EYE EASING US-CHINE TENSIONS - CLICK HERE

FOCUS ON EARNINGS WHILE US AND CHINA QUIBBLE - CLICK HERE