Investing.com - U.S. stocks rose on Monday, bolstered by upbeat economic indicators and on mergers and acquisitions news.
At the close of U.S. trading, the Dow 30 rose 0.42%, the S&P 500 index rose 0.60%, while the NASDAQ Composite index rose 1.22%.
The Volatility S&P 500 index, which measures market volatility, was up 1.58% at 11.54.
The Conference Board reported earlier that its consumer confidence index rose to 83.0 this month from 81.7 in April, in line with market expectations.
Elsewhere, the Standard & Poor’s/ Case-Shiller house price index rose 12.4% in March from a year earlier, beating forecasts for a gain of 11.8% and following a rise of 12.9% in February.
Healthy wholesale pricing data firmed the greenback as well.
The Commerce Department reported earlier U.S. durable goods orders rose 0.8% in April, confounding expectations for a 0.5% fall, after a 3.6% increase in March, whose figure was revised up from a previously estimated 2.9% rise.
Core durable goods orders, which are stripped of volatile transportation items, rose 0.1% last month, missing expectations for a 0.3% increase, though still an increase. Core durable goods orders in March were revised up to a 2.9% gain from a previously estimated 2.4% rise.
Stocks rose on the numbers amid hopes a more robust U.S. economy will bolster top lines in corporate America.
Mergers and acquisitions news moved stock prices as well.
Pfizer Inc (NYSE:PFE) shares rose after the pharmaceutical giant abandoned its $116 billion bid to acquire Astrazeneca Plc (NYSE:AZN).
Separately, poultry producer Pilgrim's Pride offered to buy Hillshire Brands Company (NYSE:HSH) in a $5.6 million deal.
Leading Dow Jones Industrial Average performers included American Express Company (NYSE:AXP), up 2.93%, Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC), up 1.54%, and Boeing Company (NYSE:BA), up 1.32%.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average's worst performers included International Business Machines (NYSE:IBM), down 0.62%, Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG), down 0.53%, and Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX), down 0.43%.
European indices, meanwhile, ended the day higher.
After the close of European trade, the DJ Euro Stoxx 50 rose 0.11%, France's CAC 40 rose 0.06%, while Germany's DAX rose 0.49%. Meanwhile, in the U.K. the FTSE 100 rose 0.43%.