US benchmark equity indexes ended higher Friday as markets assessed the latest economic data, including a report indicating that the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation metric unexpectedly held steady last month. US consumer spending growth accelerated in November, per the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

The Fed's favored core measure, excluding food and energy, was flat last month at 2.8% annually and eased to 0.1% from 0.3% sequentially. Analysts anticipated 2.9% and 0.2% growth, respectively. Consumer sentiment in the US rose in December to the highest level since April, while year-ahead inflation expectations recorded their first month-over-month increase in seven months, final results from the University of Michigan's Surveys of Consumers revealed. "Broadly speaking, consumers believe that the economy has improved considerably as inflation has slowed, but they do not feel that they are thriving," commented Joanne Hsu, director of surveys of consumers. February West Texas Intermediate crude oil closed up $0.24 to settle at $69.62 per barrel, while February Brent crude, the global benchmark, was last priced at $73.04, rising by $0.16. Humana appointed Japan Mehta as chief information officer, effective in the first quarter, succeeding Sam Deshpande.

The health insurer's shares increased by 4.8%. Novo Nordisk's shares fell 18% following clinical trial results for the Danish pharmaceutical giant's weight loss drug, which did not meet its expectations..