Stocks surge to end week | Gilead drug hopes | Boeing jumps 15%

Stocks finished the week higher on hopes the economy could begin reopening soon.

VIEW IN BROWSER | SUBSCRIBE FRI, APR 17, 2020 EVENING BRIEF AS OF FRI, APR 17, 2020 • 04:39 ET DJIA 24242.49 +2.99% +704.81 S&P 500 2874.56 +2.68% +75.01 NASDAQ 8650.14 +1.38% +117.78   Most Active DOW NAME LAST CHG %CHG AAPL 282.80 -3.89 -1.36% MSFT 178.60 +1.56 +0.88% BA 154.00 +19.76 +14.72% S&P 500 NAME LAST CHG %CHG GE 6.84 +0.60 +9.62% GILD 83.99 +7.45 +9.73% BAC 23.28 +1.86 +8.68% NASDAQ NAME LAST CHG %CHG GILD 83.99 +7.45 +9.73% AMD 56.60 -0.35 -0.61% AAL 11.57 +0.50 +4.52% EDITOR'S NOTE They say stocks climb a wall of worry, but sometimes they rise on a fountain of hope.   Stocks posted big gains to end the week on expectations that the economy may reopen sooner than expected and that effective treatments for Covid-19 are well on the way. The major indexes are up between 11% and 12% for the month, displaying a healthy recovery even as the coronavirus pandemic still remains unpredictable.   Boeing led the gains on Friday with a 14% surge.   To be sure, the market has been characterized by sizable swings throughout the month and there's no guarantee it can hold on to its gains. And for now, stock investors appear to be looking well into next year as fewer economic observers express hope of a V-shaped recovery.   "I don't see the economy getting back to full strength by the end of the year," New York Federal Reserve President John Williams told CNBC on Friday.   "Even as the pandemic passes, even as the restrictions are relaxed gradually over time, people may take quite a while before they're willing to get back on airplanes or trains or go to theaters and concerts, things like that," he said.   Subscribe to CNBC PRO for exclusive insights and analysis, and live business day programming from around the world. Al Lewis | CNBC Markets Editor @tellittoal TOP NEWS  Dow jumps 700 points on hope for a coronavirus treatment, closes at highest level since March Biotech stocks surge as people are 'hungry' for good news on the coronavirus Coronavirus bill talks will go through the weekend after small business funds dry up, Schumer says WHO issues warning on coronavirus testing: There's no evidence antibody tests show immunity Track the latest coronavirus news here Trump demands states 'LIBERATE' after he issues new coronavirus guidelines and protests pop up Trump and Cuomo fight over federal assistance on coronavirus: 'This is mayhem' Ford warns of $2 billion loss in first quarter due to coronavirus pandemic New York Fed President Williams says the economy won't be back to 'full strength' by end of 2020 Antibody study suggests Covid-19 could be far more prevalent in the Bay Area than official numbers suggest     TOP VIDEO Full interview with NY Fed's John Williams on handling the coronavirus-fueled crisis   CNBC PRO Goldman downgrades Apple to sell, predicts nearly 20% drop in stock from here   SPECIAL REPORTS Homebuilding just had its worst month since 1984. What traders see ahead for the group Netflix stock charts suggest layer of support in case of a pullback   Unsubscribe Manage Newsletters Terms of Service Join the CNBC Panel Digital Products Feedback Privacy Policy   © 2020 CNBC LLC. All rights reserved. A property of NBCUniversal. 900 Sylvan Avenue, Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632 Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes. Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes and Market Data and Analysis. Data also provided by THOMSON REUTERS