"Costco Leads Midday Stock Movers Amidst Economic Data and Earnings Reports"

U.S. stock indexes rose on Friday as investors remained optimistic about potential interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve in the coming year. Costco's stock surged after the company's quarterly results exceeded expectations, prompting the retailer to announce a special dividend. Darden, the owner of Red Lobster, saw its stock fall after providing full-year guidance below expectations. Intel's stock rose after being upgraded by BofA Securities, and Alteryx's stock also gained after Piper Sandler upgraded its stance on the analytics automation firm. Additionally, Boeing's stock climbed further, and Broadcom's stock saw an increase following positive earnings and a raised price target.