US equity indexes ended higher Friday after a broad-based rally and strong gains in mega-cap technology names as crude oil prices steadied.

* The University of Michigan's preliminary consumer sentiment index declined to 46.3 in October from 48.1 in September, versus the 47.6 expected in a Bloomberg-compiled survey.

* November West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose $0.15 to settle at $91.63 per barrel, while December Brent crude, the global benchmark, was last seen up $0.15 at $104.43.

* Shares of Moderna (MRNA) and other vaccine developers rose after The New York Times reported that the US National Institutes of Health is part of a public-private partnership to accelerate the development of cancer vaccines. Moderna shares rose roughly 12.5%, the best performer on the Nasdaq.

* SpaceX (SPCX) shares rose about 1.3% after the company agreed to acquire a nationwide low-band spectrum portfolio from investment firm Grain Management to establish Starlink Mobile as a major US mobile carrier. AT&T (T) shares fell nearly 10%, Verizon (VZ) dropped about 8.7%, and T-Mobile US (TMUS) declined nearly 13%. All three stocks were the three worst performers on the S&P 500.