The three major averages cinched their sixth straight positive week. This marked the longest string of weekly advances in 2024 for both the Dow and S&P 500, which respectively ended 0.96% and 0.85% higher. The Nasdaq climbed 0.80%.

U.S. stocks were pulling back from record territory in the final hour of trade Thursday as investors looked forward to big banks kicking off earnings season in earnest. "Inflation is ebbing lower, but it's going to take some time," said Anthony Saglimbene, chief market strategist at Ameriprise Financial, in a phone interview.

But critics are warning that stock prices look too expensive given how much faster they’ve climbed than corporate profits. David Lefkowitz, head of U.S. equities at UBS Global Wealth Management, sees both sides.