US stocks gain in shortened session

Stocks rose today as investors capped a volatile week by engaging in a bit of Black Friday bargain-hunting and searched for indications of how well retailers might fare during what is expected to be a tough holiday shopping season.

Today's session closed three hours early, capping a volatile Thanksgiving week. On Wednesday, the Dow Jones industrial average and the Standard & Poor's 500 index each fell more than 1.5%, with the Dow giving up more than 200 points.