Material world lifts stocks; Dow, S & P off the coast of the fourth week (Reuters)

NEW YORK (Reuters)--The Dow and S & P 500 closed a their fourth week of losses with a small gain Friday, but only with the help of a weakening of the dollar boost prices of metals and basic materials stocks.

Thin trade made before the day of remembrance that will keep the US markets closed Monday for a dull day on Wall Street, with offices in short-staffed. Volume was the second most light so far this year.

The greenback fell widely after consumption of U.S. lower than expected expenditures and housing data stoked worries that economic recovery is losing momentum. The U.S. Dollar Index (.)(DXY) fell 1%, its largest fall since January 13.

Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. (FCX).(N) increased by 2.7% to $51.73. S & P sector index materials (.)(GSPM) added 1.03% as the dollar decline lift helped the prices of metals and other products. Reuters - Jefferies CRB index (.)(CRB) was headed for a week in a third straight line of gains.

Inverse correlation of the value of the equities dollar "seems to be a trend that you can concentrate on an investor for the moment", said Michael Sheldon, financial market to RDM Chief Strategist in Westport, Connecticut.

"The logic is that a weaker dollar contributes to the increase in exports, sales and profits multinationals operating in the United States."

The Dow Jones industrial average (.)(DJI) added 38.82 points, or 0.31%, to 12,441.58. The Standard & Poor 500 Index (.)(SPX) increased 5.41 points, or 0.41%, to 1,331.10. Nasdaq Composite Index (.)(IXIC) acquired 13.94 points or 0.50%, to 2,796.86.

For the week, the Dow Jones index lost 0.56%, the S & P shed 0.16% and the Nasdaq fell by 0.23%.

It was the fourth consecutive week of losses for the Dow Jones index and the S & P 500. For the Nasdaq, it was the third decline in the last four weeks.

About 5.44 billion in stock on the New York Stock Exchange, NYSE Amex and Nasdaq, the volume of trading below the second until 2011 by a thin margin. He fell way below the daily average estimated year last $ 8.47 billion.

By advancing many stocks on the NYSE fell by a ratio of 3 to 1, while on the Nasdaq, almost two stocks rose for all those who have fallen.

Bank stocks led gains in Europe and also stimulated the U.S. market. Bank of America (BAC).(N), which had the largest turnover in the New York Stock Exchange, rose 2 percent to $11.69. It was biggest gainer in percentage of Dow.

Medco Health Solutions Inc. (MHS).(N) will lose a major contract for the delivery of Pharmacy at CVS Caremark Corp. (CVS).(N) as early as next year, a setback that drove its shares fell by 9% to $58.66. CVS sharing rose 1.7 percent to $38.80.

In macroeconomic terms, separate reports showed the US economy remained slow at the beginning of the second quarter with high crimp consumer spending on gasoline prices and bad weather helping to push home resales at one month of seven low in April.

(Reported by Rodrigo Campos.) (Editing by Jan Paschal)

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