Major U.S. stock-indexes higher in late morning trading on Friday, with the S&P 500 on track for its largest weekly gain since March, helped by gains in consumer discretionary and health stocks and ahead of a speech by Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen. Investors are looking for clues on the timing of the next rate hike from Yellen's speech, which comes after comments from several policymakers earlier this week that the U.S. economy has the capacity to absorb a rate hike.

Most of Dow stocks in positive area (21 of 30). Top looser - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT, -0,51%). Top gainer - UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH, +1,02%).

S&P sectors mixed. Top looser - Basic Materials (-0,3%). Top gainer - Services (+0,6%).

At the moment:

Dow 17845.00 +28.00 +0.16%

S&P 500 2094.25 +4.50 +0.22%

Nasdaq 100 4510.75 +18.50 +0.41%

Oil 49.27 -0.21 -0.42%

Gold 1217.00 -5.70 -0.47%

U.S. 10yr 1.82 -0.05