U.S. stocks close mixed

U.S. stocks ended mixed on Friday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 79.61 points, or 0.16 percent, to 49,230.71. The S&P 500 added 56.68 points, or 0.80 percent, to 7,165.08. The Nasdaq Composite Index increased by 398.094 points, or 1.63 percent, to 24,836.599.

Six of the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors ended in red, with health and industrials leading the laggards by losing 1.37 percent and 0.89 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, technology and consumer discretionary led the gainers by adding 2.46 percent and 1.36 percent, respectively.

China will send a new pair of giant pandas to the Zoo Atlanta in the United States under a 10-year international conservation cooperation agreement, according to the China Wildlife Conservation Association on Friday.

The association signed an international cooperative research agreement on giant panda conservation with Zoo Atlanta in the United States last year, said a press release of the association.

Under the agreement, a pair of giant pandas, Ping Ping (male) and Fu Shuang (female), from the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, will travel to the United States to begin the 10-year cooperation program on giant panda conservation.

At a regular press briefing on Friday, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun said the new round of international giant panda conservation cooperation between China and the United States will enhance the friendship between the people of the two countries.

"The giant panda is China's national treasure and also serves as a bridge of friendship among peoples around the world," Guo told a press briefing, adding that it is believed that the new round of international giant panda conservation cooperation between China and the United States will make new contributions to promoting the health and well-being of giant pandas, improving the ability to protect endangered species, promoting global biodiversity conservation and enhancing the friendship between the two peoples.