New York, Oct 18 (TIWN) Wall Street's major averages eked out modest gains in the week as investors monitored updates about a US coronavirus stimulus bill, while poring through a batch of key economic data.

Hopes that more COVID-19 relief aid would come to fruition before the election were dimmed as US lawmakers continued to send mix signals about the development.

"While optimism remains over an eventual stimulus bill, it appears unlikely that we'll get one before the election," said Kevin Matras, analyst at Zacks Investment Research. He added that the absence of an imminent deal would remove the immediate upward catalyst for the market.