Specialist Charles Boeddinghaus works on the floor of the New...

Specialist Charles Boeddinghaus works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Wall Street on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014. Credit: AP / Richard Drew

Stocks are closing with big gains after several major U.S. companies reported higher profits.

Caterpillar and 3M led the gains among industrial stocks, which rose significantly more than the rest of the market.

Caterpillar rose 5 percent and 3M rose 4 percent after each company reported earnings that impressed investors.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 216 points, or 1.3 percent, to 16,677 Thursday. It was up as much as 306 points in afternoon trading.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index gained 23 points, or 1.2 percent, to 1,950. The Nasdaq composite rose 69 points, or 1.6 percent, to 4,452.

Crude oil rose $1.57 to settle at $82.09 a barrel in New York.

Bond prices fell. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 2.28 percent.

Port Jefferson and Amityville are dropping their varsity football programs for the 2026 season. Port Jefferson doesn't have enough players to field a team, while Amityville have enough healthy upperclassmen to field a team. Newsday's High School Sports Editor Gregg Sarra reports.

'That's a shame' Port Jefferson and Amityville are dropping their varsity football programs for the 2026 season. Newsday's High School Sports Editor Gregg Sarra reports.

Port Jefferson and Amityville are dropping their varsity football programs for the 2026 season. Port Jefferson doesn't have enough players to field a team, while Amityville have enough healthy upperclassmen to field a team. Newsday's High School Sports Editor Gregg Sarra reports.

'That's a shame' Port Jefferson and Amityville are dropping their varsity football programs for the 2026 season. Newsday's High School Sports Editor Gregg Sarra reports.

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