Optimism sends Dow up 145

Optimistic investors bid US stocks sharply higher in light trading today, buoyed by the strength of the economy and even ignoring a slight rise in oil prices. The Dow Jones industrial average soared more than 140 points.

Much of Wall Street’s good will was carried over from Friday, when a strong employment report boosted investor confidence. But some analysts, noting that the light trading from last week also continued into Monday, wondered how sustainable the rally was.