NEW YORK (AP) — Strong earnings reports from blue chip companies are lifting stocks across the market.
Apple Inc. rose 3 percent after the company said its first quarter earnings came in way ahead of analyst’s estimates. The Travelers Companies and UnitedHealth also rose following better-than-expected earnings.
The stronger earnings results were tempered by a report that the number of people who applied for unemployment benefits last week fell less than economists had predicted.
The Dow Jones industrial average is up 25 points, or 0.2 percent, to 12,478 in midday trading.
The S&P 500 is up 6, or 0.4 percent, to 1,336. The Nasdaq composite is up 15, or 0.5 percent, to 2,817.
