This article was automatically generated using Dow Jones technology.

Shares of small-cap companies gained Friday, as the Russell 2000 Index gained 0.5%, and the S&P Small Cap 600 Index was up 0.1%.

Among companies with a market value of $1 billion to $6.7 billion, Kailera Therapeutics Inc. was the best performer during the session, surging 16%, followed by Fastly Inc. Cl A, which jumped 16%. Novavax Inc. shares surged 16%, Absci Corp. surged 14%, and shares of PicS N.V. surged 14%.

Chaince Digital Holdings Inc. was the biggest laggard, dropping 21%, followed by shares of Cardinal Infrastructure Group Inc., which dropped 16%. Shares of Alignment Healthcare Inc. dropped 13%, Eos Energy Enterprises Inc. shares tumbled 8.9%, and Avient Corp. tumbled 7.8%.

Major stock indexes in the U.S. rose Friday with the Nasdaq Composite Index gaining 0.6%. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 Index added 0.6%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average increased 0.8%.

Data source: Dow Jones Market Data, FactSet