Stocks put together a strong rally Friday, as investors pounced on word of lackluster second-quarter economic growth as a sign that the U.S. Federal Reserve was unlikely to raise rates at its Aug. 8 meeting, which would mark the first time in more than two years that it did not tighten monetary policy.

FORBES: Rally On Rates

Some trivia enthusiast needs to do a word count, but I reckon about one quarter of the debate was on the American economy with Romney on the attack and Obama on the defensive.

FORBES: How Obama Handed The Debate To Romney (Update: Why No Benghazi? Answer: Reuters)

But it is Ali al-Naimi, Saudi Arabia's oil minister, whose word really counts: he has responsibility for a quarter of the world's oil reserves.

ECONOMIST: Kerfuffle over falafel

U.S. equities traded narrowly Friday morning on word the economy grew at a slower pace in the first quarter than economists had hoped, according to a Commerce Department report, setting a gloomy tone on Wall Street as the week winds down.

FORBES