Amid more talk from some but not analysts that Hurricane Katrina could be a stimulus to the economy and that it could result in at least a pause in the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hikes while the Gulf Coast rebuilds, the New York equities markets ended the day Friday and the week up. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.8 percent on the day to 10,678.56.

It was up 2.2 percent for the week and has gained 2.7 percent since August 26, the Friday before Katrina ravaged the US Gulf Coast. The Nasdaq composite was up 0.4 percent on Friday to 2,175.51, gaining 1.6 percent on the week and 2.6 percent since August 26.

The S&P 500 added 0.8 percent to 1,241.48 on Friday, was up 1.9 percent on the week, and has gained 3 percent since August 26.

The oil sector has seen big gains since Katrina hit. Valero Energy was up 3.1 percent to $114.97 on Friday; it has risen 28.2 percent since August 26 and is up 150 percent this year.

Sunoco gained 3.5 percent Friday to $79.65 and has added 25.6 percent since August 26. Meanwhile, homebuilders seemed to recover on Friday after declines earlier in the week.

Hovnanian gained 1.3 percent Friday to $58.21 but lost 2 percent on the week. Toll Brothers gained 1.7 percent to $48.08 Friday for a 1 percent gain during the week, while Pulte was up 4.3 percent to $45.71 on Friday and a 6.9 percent gain over the week.