US stocks finish higher

Solid earnings from Verizon Communications lifted stocks on Wall Street today, sending the Dow Jones industrial average to its best close in six years even as oil prices neared an all-time high.

The Dow rose 73.16, or 0.64%, to 11,416.45, its best close since finishing at 11,489.59 on January 19, 2000. The Dow is 2.6% off a record high of 11,722.98.