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US stocks gain on earnings, jobs rise, and firmer oil prices

Last updated: 18:01 10 May 2016 BST, First published: 13:01 10 May 2016 BST

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US stocks advanced at midsession on Tuesday in the wake of improved earnings, jobs gains and firmer oil prices.

The S&P 500 index was up 1% at 2,079, while the S&P Midcap 400 was up 0.54% at 1,461, led by stocks such as Denbury Resources (NYSE:DNR) up 8.52% at $3.82 and Sm Energy (NYSE:SM) up 5.56% at $29.24. Meanwhile, the S&P Smallcap 600 was up 0.2% at 689.

The Dow Jones industrial average added 200 points in midday trade, with Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) and Boeing (NYSE:BA) contributing the most to gains as nearly all constituents advanced. With a gain of more than 1 percent in midday trade, the Dow was on pace for its best day since late April.

Figures from the Labor department showed that the number of available jobs rose to an eight-month high in March and that 5.76 million jobs were created in March, up from 5.61 million in February.

After declining from north of $46 a barrel at the end of April, oil prices are finally rising again on Tuesday. The benchmark West Texas Intermediate was up 2.4% at $44.49.


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Wall Street shares made up for losses yesterday by heading higher as investors were buoyed by jobs data and corporate earnings.

Global indices were also feeling  the glow, and heading higher.

The Dow Jones is up over 159 points at the time  of writing at 17,865, while the S&P500 is up over 16 points at 2,075 and the tech heavy Nasdaq is up over 26 to 4,777.

The S&P400 Midcap index gained 0.56% to 1,461, while the smaller cap share index S&P600 added 0.25% to stand at 689.56.

Figures from the Labor department showed that the number of available jobs rose to an eight-month high in March and that 5.76 million jobs were created in March, up from 5.61 million in February.

Meanwhile, in the Eurozone, data showed that German industrial output fell more than expected in March, but exports went higher.

Among the top US gainers was Alexza Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: ALXA) , which shot up over 66% to US$0.90 in New York as it agreed to be bought by Ferrer.

The pair have struck a deal in which subsidiary Ferrer Pharma Inc will acquire Alexza for $0.90 per share in cash -  a 210% premium to Alexza's closing share price on February 26 this year.

SodaSream  (NASDAQ:SODA) also rose up over 13% as the drinks firm unveiled a surprise rise in revenue in the first quarter.

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After a mixed finish on Monday, US stocks are set for an uplift on Tuesday as traders await more quarterly earnings results and employment data.

After trailing yesterday, the oil price is now gaining ground, with US crude up 0.71%,while major global markets are heading north.

In London, the FTSE100 is up 0.85% to 6,166, while in Asia overnight, the Nikkei closed 2.15% higher and China's Shanghai Composite Index was up  a tad - adding 0.02%

Yesterday, the Dow Jones Industrial Index closed almost 35 down at 17,705, while the S&P500 gained just 0.08% on the day to finish at 2,058.

The Nasdaq index closed around 14 points down at 4,750, while US crude is 2.87% lower but still above US$43 a barrel.

The S&P midcap 400 gained just 0.03% to 1,453.12 and the S&P600 small cap index closed just 0.01% higher at 687.87.

In futures trading today, at the time of writing,  the Dow Jones is 99 points ahead, while the tech heavy Nasdaq is up almost 24 and the broader-based S&P500 added 12 points.

In the US, the Labour Department’s job openings and turnover survey for March this year is due to  arrive this morning, along with a March reading on wholesale inventories.

Reporting today, ahead of the bell, among others, is SodaStream (NYSE: SODA), botox manufacturer Allergan (NYSE: AGN), Credit Suisse, and mobile phone giant Nokia.

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