Wall Street Market Report
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(Close): US stocks surged once again, after encouraging economic data.
The Dow Jones index finished 121.18 points, or 0.8%, higher at 15,354.40, while the S&P 500 index rose 15.65 points, or 0.95%, to close at 1,666.12.
The closely-watched University of Michigan index of consumer sentiment registered its highest number since 2007.
Financial shares were among the biggest gainers, with JPMorgan Chase up 2.6% and Goldman Sachs up 2.4%.
Shares in General Motors rose 3.1% after CLSA raised its rating on the carmaker to "buy" from "underperform".
Shares in the oil refiner Tesoro shot up by 7%, after winning US antitrust approval to acquire BP's Carson refinery in California for about $1.2bn.
J.C. Penney shares lost 4%, after the department store chain reported that its first-quarter net losses more than doubled from a year ago, to $348m.
Two stocks rose for every one that fell on the New York Stock Exchange, but at three billion shares, trading was lighter than usual.
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