NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - Stocks got an early lift Friday after an uplifting revenue growth forecast by General Motors that helped boost the Dow industrials, but gains were subject to options-related volatility.

The Dow Jones industrial average (Charts) rose 0.2 percent, while the broader S&P 500 index (Charts) added around 0.2 percent. The Nasdaq composite (Charts) was down briefly before surging 0.5 percent.

Stocks lost ground late in the session Thursday as investors turned their attention to Friday's expiration of stock index futures and options and individual stock futures and options, which occurs once a quarter.

The so-called quadruple witching expirations describes a two-day period of quarterly settlement. The witching period, which ends Friday, is an event that can cause greater volume and volatility in trading.

Among stock movers, General Motors (unchanged at $22.13, Research) gained in early trade, lifting the Dow industrials, after Chief Executive Rick Wagoner said the automaker should see improved revenue in 2006, driven by its new line of full-sized sport utility vehicles and trucks.

Light, sweet crude oil for January delivery fell 35 cents to $59.64 a barrel in electronic trading.

Treasury prices gained, lowering the yield on the 10-year note to 4.42 percent from 4.47 percent late Thursday. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.

The dollar fell versus the euro and yen.

COMEX gold for February delivery rose $3 to $509.60 an ounce.

In global trade, major Asian markets closed mostly lower Friday, and European markets were higher in early trading.