Encouraging economic indicators sent U.S. stocks higher on Friday, but the market's recent struggles are set to continue into next week when more than one-fifth of S&P 500 companies report results.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> gained 56.68 points, or 0.46 percent, to end unofficially at 12,341.83. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> rose 5.16 points, or 0.39 percent, to finish unofficially at 1,319.68. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> added 4.43 points, or 0.16 percent, to close unofficially at 2,764.65.

For the week, the Dow slipped 0.3 percent, the S&P 500 declined 0.6 percent and the Nasdaq shed 0.6 percent.

(Reporting by Ed Krudy; Editing by Jan Paschal)