US stocks end higher

A late rebound gave Wall Street modest gains today as two acquisitions and upbeat earnings from Hewlett-Packard helped lift the major indexes to four-year highs.

Lower oil prices also eased worries about consumer spending ahead of the holiday shopping season. But many analysts remain split over whether the stock market will have its usual year-end rally, and trading has become erratic as mixed economic and earnings data has left investors wondering about the economy’s health.