NEW YORK, Nov. 25 (Xinhuanet) -- US stocks rose on Friday, as the start of the holiday shopping period put visions of profits in investors' heads.

    Both the Standard & Poor's 500 Index and the Nasdaq Composite Index hit fresh 4-1/2-year closing highs, while the blue-chip Dow Jones industrial average ended at its highest level since March.

    Shares of electronics retailers Best Buy Co. Inc. and Circuit City Stores Inc. gained as shoppers snapped up bargain-priced DVD players, TVs and other consumer electronics items for holiday giving.

    Best Buy jumped 3.3 percent to 50.63 dollars, while Circuit City climbed 2.4 percent to 21.38 dollars, both on the New York Stock Exchange.

    The Dow Jones industrial average was up 15.53 points, or 0.14 percent, to end at 10,931.62. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index was up 2.64 points, or 0.21 percent, at 1,268.25.

    The technology-laced Nasdaq Composite Index was up 3.03 points, or 0.13 percent, at 2,263.01.

    The New York Stock Exchange closed early on Friday. US financial markets were closed on Thursday for Thanksgiving Day.

    Trading was light on the NYSE, with about 541.9 million shares changing hands, while on the Nasdaq, about 650.8 million shares traded.

    Advancing stocks outnumbered declining ones by a ratio of 3 to 2 on the NYSE.

    On the Nasdaq, the stocks that rose slightly edged out those that fell, with 1,454 stocks up and 1,369 stocks down. Enditem