New York, Dec 18 (DPA) US stocks ended the week mixed as a key gauge of the US economy's performance released Friday suggested the country's recovery was beginning to gather steam.

The New York-based Conference Board's Leading Economic Index jumped 1.1 percent in November to 112.4, marking the fifth straight monthly increase. Improved sales forecasts from some US companies also helped overshadow more concerns over the Irish government's debts.

The blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average edged down 7.34 points, or 0.06 percent, to 11,491.91. The broader S&P 500 was up 1.04 points, or 0.08 percent, to 1,243.91. The technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index climbed 5.66 points, or 0.21 percent, to 2,642.97.

For the week, the Dow climbed 0.72 percent, the S&P 500 added 0.28 percent and the Nasdaq rose 0.21 percent.

The US currency gained against the euro to 75.83 euro cents from 75.52 euro cents Thursday. The dollar slipped against the Japanese currency to 83.98 yen from 84.03 yen.