US stocks climb on earnings and economic data

Upbeat earnings and a broker’s upgrade of General Motors drove stocks higher in the United States today as the latest round of data assured investors that the economy remains in good shape.

The Dow Jones industrial average jumped 71.24, or 0.63%, to 11,354.49. The Dow surged as much as 96 points earlier, but despite the pullback remained at its highest levels since January 2000.