https://apnews.com/4270fcc2a2f646dd998278fc9a517f81

U.S. stocks climbed in early trading Monday as hopes grew for progress in resolving trade frictions between the U.S. and China. Technology companies, health care stocks and retailers drove much of the broad gains on the last day of a volatile year on Wall Street that has the market on track for its worst showing in a decade.

KEEPING SCORE: The S&P 500 index rose 15 points, or 0.6 percent, to 2,501 as of 10 a.m. Eastern Time. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 205 points, or 0.9 percent, to 23,267. The Nasdaq added 45 points, or 0.7 percent, to 6,630. The Russell 2000 index of smaller-company stocks climbed 5 points, or 0.4 percent, 1,343.