Wall Street rose Friday on a series of mixed economic data and optimistic profit forecasts from listed companies.

The Dow Jones average was up 59.17, or 0.47 percent, to 12,612. 13. The Standard & Poor's 500 index gained 5.05, or 0.35 percent, to 1,452.85, while the Nasdaq composite index rose 11.62, or 0.47 percent, to 2,491.94.

The Labor Department reported Friday that the U.S. wholesale prices surged by 1 percent in March, following an even bigger spike of 1.3 percent in February. Excluding volatile energy and food prices, the core inflation at wholesale level was flat in March.

The University of Michigan said the consumer sentiment index weakened in early April, falling to 85.3 from 88.4 in March.

However, the markets were boosted later in the day by stronger profit outlooks from drug maker Merck & Co. and fast-food restaurant chain McDonald's Corp.

Source: Xinhua