NEW YORK - US stocks ended mixed on Friday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 79.61 points, or 0.16 percent, to 49,230.71. The S&P 500 added 56.68 points, or 0.80 percent, to 7,165.08. The Nasdaq Composite Index increased by 398.094 points, or 1.63 percent, to 24,836.599.

Six of the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors ended in red, with health and industrials leading the laggards by losing 1.37 percent and 0.89 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, technology and consumer discretionary led the gainers by adding 2.46 percent and 1.36 percent, respectively.