Stocks rose on Thursday, carrying major market gauges to fresh highs, after a bright outlook from No 1 mobile phone maker Nokia and strong sales from Taiwanese chip maker TSMC perked sentiment ahead of the rush of the earnings season.
By midday, the Nasdaq Composite Index was up 10 points, or 0.49 percent, to 2,087, its highest level since January 2002. The Dow Jones industrials added 28 points, or 0.27 percent, at 10,557, hitting its highest level in 21 months. The broad Standard & Poor's 500 edged up 0.69 of a point, or 0.06 percent, to 1,127, its best level in 20 months.