Stocks back at record levels as energy sector recovers

FILE - This Oct. 8. 2014, file photo, shows a Wall Street address carved into the side of a building in New York. Global stocks rose Friday, Feb. 13, 2015, after Greece and its European creditors said they were willing to compromise to help Athens with its debts, while fresh data showed improvement in the eurozone's economy. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File) FILE - This Oct. 8. 2014, file photo, shows a Wall Street address carved into the side of a building in New York. Global stocks rose Friday, Feb. 13, 2015, after Greece and its European creditors said they were willing to compromise to help Athens with its debts, while fresh data showed improvement in the eurozone's economy. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

By Associated Press February 13, 2015 1 min read

NEW YORK (AP) – U.S. stocks are back at record levels as energy stocks recover along with the price of oil.

Encouraging earnings news from CBS and surprisingly strong economic growth in Europe also sent indexes higher in midday trading Friday.

The Standard and Poor’s 500 index increased five points, or 0.2 percent, to 2,093, as of 11:45 a.m. That’s three points above its record closing high reached in late December.

The Dow Jones industrial average climbed 42 points, or 0.2 percent, to 18,014. The Nasdaq composite gained 21 points, or 0.4 percent, to 4,878.

CBS rose 3 percent after reporting earnings that exceeded analyst’s expectations.