Rally continues in stocks

BETTER-THAN-EXPECTED reports on joblessness, new home sales and durable goods in combination with some positive comments out of General Motors propelled stocks higher at midday yesterday, extending the previous session's rally.

Around 11.30am ET, the Nasdaq composite gained 8.90 to 1,231.19.

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 133.23 to 7,975.05.