Markets Right Now: Tech, health care lead gains for stocks

The latest on developments in financial markets (all times local):

4 p.m.

Technology and health care companies led U.S. stocks broadly higher, putting the market on track to break a two-week losing streak.

Trading was relatively quiet Thursday as markets reopened following the Independence Day holiday in the U.S.

Trading could turn bumpier on Friday as U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods are set to kick in. The Labor Department will also release its closely watched monthly report on the job market.

Chipmaker Intel climbed 2.6 percent and Johnson & Johnson rose 1.9 percent.

The S&P 500 rose 23 points, or 0.9 percent, to 2,736.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 181 points, or 0.8 percent, to 24,356. The Nasdaq composite climbed 83 points, or 1.1 percent, to 7,586.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury note was little changed at 2.83 percent.

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11:45 a.m.

Stocks are trading higher at midday on Wall Street as traders return from the Independence Day holiday.

Technology and health care companies contributed the most to the market's gains Thursday. Chipmaker Intel climbed 2.4 percent and Johnson & Johnson rose 1.3 percent.

The gains were broad. The only two sectors in the benchmark S&P 500 index to decline were safe-play stocks, utilities and telecommunications companies.

TiVo slumped 4 percent after announcing the sudden departure of its CEO.

The S&P 500 rose 13 points, or 0.5 percent, to 2,726.

The Dow Jones industrial average added 130 points, or 0.6 percent, to 24,306. The Nasdaq composite climbed 53 points, or 0.7 percent, to 7,555.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury note was little changed at 2.83 percent.

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9:35 a.m.

Stocks are opening solidly higher on Wall Street, turning major U.S. indexes higher for the week.

Technology and health care companies were rising more than the rest of the market early Thursday as traders returned from the Independence Day holiday.

Chipmaker Micron Technology jumped 2.6 percent in early trading, and biotechnology company Biogen was up 1.3 percent.

Barnes & Noble rose 1.3 percent after the company fired its CEO late Tuesday.

The S&P 500 index rose 13 points, or 0.5 percent, to 2,726.

The Dow Jones industrial average added 130 points, or 0.6 percent, to 24,306. The Nasdaq composite climbed 53 points, or 0.7 percent, to 7,555.