S&P 500 reaches further into record territory

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks moved solidly higher today, pushing the Standard & Poor's 500 index further into record territory, as investors focused on a report of surprisingly strong growth in manufacturing in the Midwest.

The S&P 500 rose 12 points, or 0.7 percent, to 1,867 as of 12:15 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 114 points, or 0.7 percent, to 16,387 and the Nasdaq composite rose 18 points, or 0.4 percent, to 4,337.