US stocks rise as stronger auto sales and factory orders highlight strengthening economy

Stocks are trading at record highs again following strong reports on auto sales and factory orders.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 92 points, or 0.6 per cent, to 14,665 at midday Tuesday.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 rose nine points, or 0.6 per cent, to 1,571. The Nasdaq composite rose 22, or 0.7 per cent, to 3,261.

Chrysler said it sold more cars and trucks in March than in any month since the Great Recession began. Its sales rose 5 per cent, while U.S. sales for GM and Ford rose 6 per cent.

Orders to U.S. factories rose 3 per cent in February, the best gain in five months.

Health insurance companies rose after the government released revised Medicare Advantage rates that suggest funding cuts will be less severe than analysts and companies had feared.