U.S. stocks closed up on Friday as December's unemployment report, despite showing job losses, was seen supportive of a slow recovery.

The Dow and S&P hit fresh 15-month closing highs.

Based on the latest available data, the Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was up 11.33 points, or 0.11 percent, at 10,618.19. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was up 3.29 points, or 0.29 percent, at 1,144.98. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was up 17.12 points, or 0.74 percent, at 2,317.17.

For the week, the Dow was up 1.8 percent, the S&P was up 2.7 percent and the Nasdaq up 2 percent.

(Editing by Kenneth Barry)

S&P