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Market moderately higher in choppy trade


    NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks were moderately higher in volatile late afternoon trading on Friday, as Google Inc's reassuring results and rising energy stocks offset worries about the economy.

    The market at one point turned negative before moving higher again. Traders said the day's volatility was exacerbated by options expiration.

    The Dow Jones industrial average was up 3 points, or 0.03 percent, at 8,982.68. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index was up 5.02 points, or 0.53 percent, at 951.45. The Nasdaq Composite Index was up 8.09 points, or 0.47 percent, at 1,725.80.

    (Reporting by Kristina Cooke; Editing by Kenneth Barry)