Trader Edward Curran, right, works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2015. The U.S. stock market is mixed in early trading after two straight days of gains. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
January 21, 2015 - 9:08 AM
NEW YORK, N.Y. - U.S. stocks are moving higher at midday as investors weigh a rebound in home construction, higher oil prices and a mix of corporate earnings reports.
The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 13 points, or 0.7 per cent, to 2,036 as of 11:57 a.m. Eastern time Wednesday. The Dow Jones industrial average climbed 56 points, or 0.3 per cent, to 17,571. The Nasdaq gained 28 points, or 0.6 per cent, to 4,682.
Stocks of energy companies rose the most among the 10 sectors in the S&P 500, as the price of benchmark U.S. crude oil climbed 3 per cent to $47.92 a barrel.
European markets were mostly higher as investors awaited the European Central Bank's decision Thursday on another wave of economic stimulus.
News from © The Associated Press, 2015