U.S. stocks finished higher on Friday, with the three main indexes closing at record highs, as defensive stocks led the market higher in quiet postholiday trade. The S&P 500 gained 8.53 points, or 0.4%, to 2,213.30, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 68.69 points, or 0.4%, to 19,152,14 as shares of Cisco Systems Inc. and Coca-Cola Company led the blue-chip gauge higher. The Nasdaq Composite advanced 18.24 points, or 0.3%, to 5,398.92. The Russell 2000 , the small-cap benchmark, also closed at a record high and notched its 15th straight session of gains — its longest winning streak since February 1996. The Russell gained 3.24 points, or 0.2%, to 1,345.32.
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