https://apnews.com/4c74683f5e044f71a88202deffd318e8

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are climbing Friday and technology companies and consumer-focused companies were leading the gains. Optimism over economic growth is boosting industrial and energy companies, along with banks and makers of basic materials.

KEEPING SCORE: The S&P 500 index rose 24 points, or 0.9 percent to 2,666 as of noon Eastern time. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 217 points, or 0.9 percent, to 24,770. The Nasdaq composite rose 80 points, or 1.1 percent, to 7,153. The Russell 2000 index of smaller company stocks rose 16 points, or 1.2 percent, to 1,481.