Wednesday's midday trade: Dow Jones climbs

US stocks rose on Wednesday after a healthy bond sale in Portugal eased nervousness about the eurozone's debt crisis and investors pushed US bank shares higher on signs of strength. European shares rallied to a 28-month high, led by banks, on hopes eurozone finance ministers would beef up the European Union's rescue fund and after Portugal sold 1.25 billion euros ($1.62 billion) amid strong demand.
J.P. Morgan Chase & Co climbed 2.6 percent to $44.73 to lead the KBW bank index, up 1.4 percent. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 105.05 points, or 0.90 percent, at 11,776.93. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index gained 11.75 points, or 0.92 percent, at 1,286.23. The Nasdaq Composite Index advanced 17.56 points, or 0.65 percent, at 2,734.39.