U.S. stocks turn positive in final stretch

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- U.S. stocks turned positive within the last stretch of Friday's trading session, as gains in consumer stocks following a slight improvement in a sentiment survey helped offset concerns about growth. The government earlier reported a slowdown in second-quarter growth. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 13.24 points, or 0.1%, to 10,481.91. The S&P 500 index rose 2.06 points, or 0.2%, to 1,103.59. The broad index was lifted by gains in its consumer discretionary sector, itself lifted by the stock of Expedia Inc. , up 7.8%, after the travel website reported earnings, and of Sears Holdings Corp. , with the retailer's stock up 3.6%. The Nasdaq Composite gained 7.80 points, or 0.3%, to 2,259.31.

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