Investors welcomed a rise in U.S. manufacturing activity and a mixed batch of corporate earnings. The Dow closed at its highest level in more than four years. Financial, transportation and energy shares, all of which are linked to economic growth, were strong performers. However, the NASDAQ failed to hold earlier gains as Apple continued to slip further. Intel traded up 2% to close in a sign that money is still flowing into large-cap technology stocks as the market grinds higher.
