New York ? Optimistic that Wall Street will be able to extend its October rally, investors sent stocks sharply higher Friday, giving the market’s three major indexes their third-straight winning week.

Analysts said investors were generally feeling upbeat after strong gains the previous two weeks and were putting aside fears at least temporarily that Wall Street’s current advance is a bear-market rally that will give up its gains.

“The market definitely has been feeling the path of least resistance in the upward direction. It’s almost a regardless-of-the-news type of rally,” said analyst Arthur Hogan.

“The broader market is definitely in rally mode, and today is no different. We’re basically having a drift up,” he said.

The Dow Jones industrial average climbed 126.65, or 1.5 percent, to close at 8,443.99.

The broader market also finished higher. All three gauges had their third-consecutive winning week, a feat not seen since the period ended Aug. 23.