By Donna Kardos Yesalavich

U.S. stocks edged up Friday on weak volume, adding to the market's gains this week ahead of the second-quarter reporting season kicking off Monday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) has climbed nearly 5% this week, thanks in part to investors' hopes that the market's recent drop to 2010 lows may have exaggerated expected effects on corporate earnings from the slumping euro and slower global growth. However, investors are hesitant to push stocks up much more before the reports begin, especially after conflicting reports recently on retail sales and wholesale inventories.

"The data seem to be mixed this point," said Tim Evnin, partner and equity portfolio manager at Evercore Wealth Management. "What we're clearly looking for is where the rubber hits the road, which is in corporate earnings. We're looking to get a sense of whether the very good results from the first quarter will continue. The market's valuation is clearly showing that investors are skeptical."

The Dow rose 19 points to 10158 in recent trading. Alcoa rose 1.2% ahead of its second-quarter report due Monday. Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) was also strong, up 1.9%, and Chevron Corp. (CVX) climbed 1.8% as crude-oil futures climbed to nearly $76 a barrel.

Offsetting the gains, Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) fell 1.3% and Boeing Co. (BA) declined 0.9%. The aerospace giant submitted its attempt to win a multi-billion-dollar contract to provide the U.S. Air Force with new aerial refueling tankers a day after European Aeronautic Defence & Space submitted its own proposal for the contract.

The Nasdaq Composite (RIXF) rose 0.3% to 2182, bolstered by a 2% jump in Google, Inc. (GOOG). The company said the Chinese government renewed a license it needed to continue using its Chinese Web address, marking a compromise between the company and Chinese regulators since Google decided to stop cooperating with censorship requirements.

The Standard & Poor's 500-stock index (SPX) added 0.2% to 1073. The materials sector led the measure's gains while consumer-staples and health-care stocks fell.

Trading volume was weak. Less than 2.5 billion shares had changed hands in NYSE Composite volume with less than two hours left to the trading session. The recent daily average has been over 5 billion.

Data released Friday showed inventories of U.S. wholesalers rose 0.5% in May, in line with expectations, as warehouses were restocked with machinery and other durable goods. However, sales of U.S. wholesalers registered their first decline in 14 months with a 0.3% slip.

Investors noted that while the rise in inventories is seen as lifting economic growth, the data also indicates demand is waning.

Overseas, the Bank of Korea unexpectedly raised interest rates from record lows. Markets were surprised by the rate increase, but Seoul shares ended higher on the view that the central bank was sending a vote of confidence in Korea's recovery.

Meanwhile, European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet stepped up his warnings to governments to reduce their borrowing before they lose the confidence of electorates and financial markets.

The euro fell to $1.2642, from $1.2692 late Thursday in New York. The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) edged up 0.2%. Treasurys slipped, pushing the yield on the 10-year note above 3%, up to 3.05%. Gold futures climbed.

Among stocks in focus, Madison Square Garden (MSGNV) fell 4.2% after basketball star LeBron James late Thursday confirmed reports that he will join the Miami Heat, rather than the MSG-owned New York Knicks.

Lawson Software (LWSN) slipped 3.4%. The business-software maker's fiscal fourth-quarter earnings fell 30% and the company projected first-quarter earnings and revenue below analysts' estimates.

 
 
Lawson Software, Inc. (MM) (NASDAQ:LWSN)
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