NEW YORK (AP) -- Wall Street is ending a volatile week with an unexpected jolt of confidence following reports that President-elect Barack Obama plans to name New York Federal Reserve President Timothy Geithner as Treasury secretary. The major indexes have jumped more than 5 percent, with the Dow Jones industrials surging nearly 500 points.
Stocks have erased about half of the losses that came in steep selling Wednesday and Thursday.
Wall Street appears buoyed by reports that Obama plans to name his economic team on Monday - offering investors some hope of a smooth transition in an uncertain market.
The Dow is ending up 494, or 6.5 percent, at the 8,047 level.
Also Hillary Rodham Clinton has decided to give up her Senate seat and accept the position of secretary of state under Presdient-elect Obama, two confidants said Friday according to a New York Times report .
The report added that Clinton came to her decision after additional discussion with Obama about the nature of her role and his plans for foreign policy, said one of the confidants, who insisted on anonymity to discuss the situation.