By Kate Gibson, MarketWatch NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- U.S. stocks rose Friday, with the S&P 500 index joining the Dow industrials in positive turf for the week, on reports Europe would move to curb its debt troubles. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) rose 68.03 points, or 0.5%, to 12,955.96, with Merck & Co. Inc. (MRK) leading gains that included 25 of its 30 components. Merck shares rallied 3.2% after the pharmaceutical company's earnings topped forecasts. The S&P 500 index (SPX) added 10.22 points, or 0.8%, to 1,370.24, with health care the best performing and energy the sole laggard among its 10 sectors. Amgen Inc. (AMGN) gained 3.1% after the biotechnology company hiked its 2012 outlook and reported second-quarter profit that exceeded analysts' estimates. The Nasdaq Composite (RIXF) gained 23.29 oints, or 0.8%, to 2,916.52. Facebook Inc. (FB) shares slid nearly 15% after the social-networking site offered little reassurance to investors concerned about its lofty valuation. For every stock declining, more than four gained on the New York Stock Exchange, where 180 million shares were exchanged as of 10:45 a.m. Eastern. Global equities gained after German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande said they are committed to keeping the euro area together. The French newspaper Le Monde reported the European Central Bank was readying to purchase debt. The major stock indexes held gains after a gauge of consumer sentiment came in just above expectations, as did a separate report on U.S. economic growth in the second quarter. . Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires
