Gains by technology companies helped send U.S. stocks higher in midday trading Thursday. Retailers also rose after the government said retail sales jumped in November. Health care stocks lagged the market.
KEEPING SCORE: The Standard & Poor’s 500 index rose 1 point, or 0.1 percent, to 2,664 as of 11:39 a.m. Eastern Time. The Dow Jones industrial average gained 19 points, or 0.1 percent, to 24,604. The Nasdaq added 12 points, or 0.2 percent, to 6,888. The Russell 2000 index of smaller-company stocks lost 3 points, or 0.2 percent, to 1,521.
