Wall Street gains on Spain hopes, Apple hits new peak

Spain is considering freezing pensions and speeding up a planned rise in the retirement age as it races to cut spending and meet conditions of an expected international sovereign aid package, sources with knowledge of the matter said.

The country's deputy prime minister later denied the government was mulling the freezing of pensions.

"The problems are very big (in Spain and Europe in general), it's possible this is the beginning of the workout of the situation, it certainly takes some pressure off," said Rick Meckler, president LibertyView Capital Management in New York.

"But you can expect - as it's gone on all year - there will be positive and negative news stories out of Europe until Germany makes some firm decision on its level of commitment."

After gaining about 6 percent since the start of August on expectations for new economic stimulus measures by world central banks, the S&P 500 has seen muted action this week, barely moving 0.4 percent in either direction daily.

There may be increased volatility towards the close Friday due to 'quadruple witching' - the quarterly settlement and expiration of four different types of September e q uity futures and options contracts. Expiration can lead to greater volume and volatility as players adjust or exercise their derivative positions.

"That has historically been a positive day for the market so you have some people just really looking at that," said Meckler, referring to the quadruple witching.

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 21.37 points, or 0.16 percent, to 13,618.30. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index added 4.63 points, or 0.32 percent, to 1,464.89. The Nasdaq Composite Index rose 14.89 points, or 0.47 percent, to 3,190.85.

Apple Inc