Wall Street coasted to the close of its best week since November, as U.S. stocks drifted a bit higher Friday. The Standard & Poor's 500 rose 0.2% for a seventh straight gain and pulled back within 2% of its all-time high set last month.

Japanese stocks led the gains in World markets Friday after Wall Street rallied to one of its best days of the year as data showed the U.S. economy is holding up better than expected, with particular credit going to the country’s shoppers.

Wall Street nears records after one of its best days of the year; S&P 500 jumps 1.6%, Dow up more than 550 points