In U.S. stocks, the S&P 500 ended...>

US STOCKS CLOSE: In U.S. stocks, the S&P 500 ended up 0.20% at 2,477, after

trading in a 2,462.65 to 2,480.38 range.

- The August 21 low of 2,417.35 was the lowest since July 11, when the index

bottomed at 2,412.79.

- At Thursday's close, the S&P 500 was up 10.4% year-to date and down 0.8% from

the life-time intraday high of 2,490.87, seen August 8.

- Market players were also monitoring the Russell 2000 index, which often leads

larger stock swings.

- The index, last around 1,410.85 and at the day's highs, posted a low of

1,349.35 August 18, which was the lowest level since April 17, when the Russell

2000 bottomed at 1,345.363.

- Thursday's close above an old pivot zone of old lows/highs in the 1,390-1,400

was deemed promising, but budding bulls will take more comfort from a close

above the 55-day moving average, currently a bit above 1,407.