The Dow and S&P 500 rose on Thursday on stronger-than-expected economic data and German lawmakers' approval to strengthen the eurozone's crisis fund, while big-cap Internet shares dragged on the Nasdaq. Europe again averted disaster in its debt crisis when German deputies rallied behind Chancellor Angela Merkel to approve a stronger eurozone bailout fund on Thursday.
Bank shares rose, including Citigroup Inc up 2.3 percent at $26.50 and J.P. Morgan Chase & Co up 3.1 percent at $31.43. The KBW Bank index advanced 2.6 percent. The Dow Jones industrial average was up 147.13 points, or 1.34 percent, at 11,158.03. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index was up 10.47 points, or 0.91 percent, at 1,161.53. The Nasdaq Composite Index was down 2.60 points, or 0.10 percent, at 2,488.98. Techs pressured the Nasdaq, with Amazon.com Inc off 1.9 percent at $225.39 following a sharp rally on Wednesday.