YAHOO[BRIEFING.COM]: Strength in tech, energy, and financial stocks helped the broader market shake off early weakness to finish the session 0.5% higher. Stocks had been down more than 2.6% at their session low.

Google (GOOG 324.70, +18.20) helped drive the tech sector 1.6% higher. Investors bid shares of the Internet titan higher after it announced better-than-expected fourth quarter results, which featured double-digit top and bottom line growth. Google's annual cash flow totaled roughly $25 per share, which is more than double that of Apple (AAPL 88.36, +0.00) or Microsoft (MSFT 17.20, +0.09).

The energy sector (+2.2%) put together a strong advance of its own as crude oil prices rebounded from a 5% loss to finish more than 4% higher at $45.60 per barrel. Crude advanced nearly 25% this week. Though oil staged a strong advance, demand concerns remain in focus. 

Oil services outfit Schlumberger (SLB 41.00, +3.73) indicated a sharp drop in oil and gas prices caused a rapid and substantial decline in spending on exploration and production services. Its shares provided leadership to the energy sector in what some pundits believe was a short-covering rally. Schlumberger has been trading at multiyear lows in recent sessions, and reported this morning quarterly earnings results that fell short of the consensus estimate.

Financial stocks logged the best performance of the session. They advanced 3.4% with the support of other diversified financial services companies (+7.0%). Capital One Financial (COF 19.32, -2.62) was a laggard in the sector and traded at new multiyear lows; it reported a loss of $1.59 per share for the latest quarter. The results further underscore profit concerns and the threat of capital raises.

Such concerns have taken their toll on General Electric (GE 12.03, -1.45). The economic bellwether reported in-line earnings results and said it does not see a scenario where it would need to raise capital. Management also reiterated that it is maintaining its dividend. At GE's current share price, GE's dividend yield stands at almost 10%, leading many to quesion whether it is sustainable. GE registered new multiyear lows this session; its weakness undercut the industrial sector (-3.3%) and the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

Though overall credit conditions remain tight, cash rich companies are able to take advantage of depressed asset and securities prices by making acquisitions. According to reports, Pfizer (PFE 17.45, +0.24) may be looking to acquire Wyeth (WYE 43.74, +4.91) in a deal valued at more than $60 billion. Such a deal would help Pfizer rebuff concerns stemming from a narrowing product pipeline and increased competition from generic drug makers.

Stocks finished with a weekly loss of 2.1%, which isn't quite as severe as the 4.5% loss registered last week. Stocks are down almost 8% for the month.DJ30 -45.24 NASDAQ +11.80 NQ100 +0.7% R2K +0.3% SP400 +1.0% SP500 +4.45 NASDAQ Dec/Adv/Vol 1406/1268/2.18 bln NYSE Dec/Adv/Vol 1386/1663/1.42 bln