US benchmark equity indexes ended higher Friday as traders returned from the Thanksgiving holiday for a shortened trading session on Wall Street.

* The Federal Reserve Board approved the United Bankshares' (UBSI) proposed acquisition of Piedmont Bancorp and its Piedmont Bank subsidiary. The Fed said in its order that the merger would not have a significant adverse impact on competition.

* January West Texas Intermediate crude oil closed down $0.06 to settle at $68.66 per barrel, while January Brent crude, the global benchmark, was last seen down $0.22 to $73.06.

* Symbotic (SYM) shares jumped 11% in the first trading session after the stock plunged on the company's submission of a late filing for its annual report for the fiscal year ending Sept. 28 over a revenue recognition error.

* Grifols (GRFS) shares plunged 13% after Bloomberg reported Thursday that it is in discussions with banks to extend a $1 billion revolving credit facility and refinance 370 million euros ($390.3 million) in bonds due 2025.