U.S. stocks climbed on Friday, with major indexes extending their gains as investors looked ahead to new inflation figures and the next round of corporate earnings reports. The market move reflected cautious optimism, even as traders remained focused on signs of how quickly prices may be changing.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq all moved higher as participants weighed the potential impact of economic data on Federal Reserve policy. Inflation remains a key driver for interest-rate expectations, and upcoming reports could influence how investors position themselves in the days ahead.

Corporate results are also expected to shape sentiment, with companies set to provide more detail on consumer demand, profit margins and the broader health of the economy. For now, the rally suggests investors are willing to add risk while waiting for clearer signals from both government data and earnings season.

Despite the gains, traders remain alert to volatility if inflation proves stickier than expected or if earnings fail to support current valuations. The next batch of economic releases will likely determine whether Friday’s advance can carry into the coming week.