NEW YORK (AP) – U.S. stock indexes are closing higher following encouraging news on consumer spending and home sales.
Energy stocks and banks had some of the biggest gains Monday.
UnitedHealth Group jumped 2.5 percent after the nation’s largest health insurer said it would buy pharmacy benefits manager Catamaran.
The Dow Jones industrial average soared 263 points, or 1.5 percent, to 17,976.
The Standard & Poor’s 500 index rose 25 points, or 1.2 percent, to 2,086. The Nasdaq composite climbed 56 points, or 1.1 percent, to 4,947.
