HOUSTON -- The Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo is known for having numerous events and exhibits involving animals, but on Friday, a bull played a big role in the New York Stock Exchange.

A bucking bull and rider remotely rang the closing bell of the NYSE at 3 p.m. Houston time. The bull wore a bell as it rushed out of a chute on the arena floor.

Executives from NYSE-listed Houston-area companies, rodeo leaders and volunteers also rang cowbells and cheered.

The bull may have provided a touch of luck for the markets. The Dow gained 53 points to close at 7,223. The Standard and Poor's 500 index closed 5 points up to finish at 744, while the technology-heavy Nasdaq composite index finished 5 points up at 1,431.

The NYSE closing bell is telecast live on most financial news networks including CNBC, CNN and Bloomberg.

The Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo runs through March 22. Friday night's concert entertainer is Clint Black.