Major US stock indexes ended the week at fresh records, buoyed by corporate earnings and the prospect of tax cuts. The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased 96.97 points, or 0.48%, to 20,269.37.  The S&P 500 added 8.23 points, or 0.36%, to 2,316.10. 

    The Nasdaq Composite Index was up 18.95 points, or 0.33%, to 5,734.13. For the week, all three major indices posted solid gains, with the Dow, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq going up 1.0%, 0.8% and 1.2%, respectively. 

    On the economic front, US import prices advanced 0.4% in January, following a 0.5% increase in December, according to the US Labor Department. US export prices increased 0.1%in January, after rising 0.4% the previous month. 

    Overseas, European equities increased broadly Friday amid earnings reports. German benchmark DAX index at Frankfurt Stock Exchange inched up 0.21%, while British benchmark FTSE 100 Index climbed 0.40%. In Asia, Tokyo stocks surged Friday, with the benchmark Nikkei index advancing 2.49%.