U.S. stocks end modestly higher, Dow Jones adds 51 points

NEW YORK, New York - Speculation that the Federal Reserve will commence cutting interest rates next month kept sellers at bay on Friday, however the gains by most indices were modest.

"There is going to continue to be a significant amount of uncertainty and anxiety hanging over the market for the course of the next month until we get to the next Fed meeting," Michael James, managing director of equity trading at