Specialist Wingszi Chiang, left, and trader Fred DeMarco work on...

Specialist Wingszi Chiang, left, and trader Fred DeMarco work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Monday, April 28, 2014. Stocks are mostly higher in early trading as traders hope for another blockbuster merger in the health care industry. Credit: AP / Richard Drew

The stock market closed higher Tuesday as more U.S. companies delivered solid quarterly results.

At the close on Wall Street, the Standard & Poor's 500 index gained nearly 9 points, about 0.5 percent, to close at 1,878.3. Banks and technology stocks rose the most. The Dow Jones industrial average closed up with a gain of 86.6 points, about 0.5 percent, at 16,535.4. The Nasdaq composite increased 29.1 points, about 0.7 percent, to 4,103.5.

Merck, Ameriprise Financial and the diesel engine maker Cummins were among the corporations reporting better-than-expected earnings.

Some companies posted results that disappointed investors. Coach slumped 9 percent after the luxury goods maker said its profit fell in the first three months of the year.

On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," we look at East Islip baseball's inspirational comeback story, Jared Valluzzi has the plays of the week and Tess Ferguson breaks down the top defensive players in girls lacrosse. 

Sarra Sounds Off Ep. 35: EI baseball, girls lacrosse and plays of the week On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," we look at East Islip baseball's inspirational comeback story, Jared Valluzzi has the plays of the week and Tess Ferguson breaks down the top defensive players in girls lacrosse.

On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," we look at East Islip baseball's inspirational comeback story, Jared Valluzzi has the plays of the week and Tess Ferguson breaks down the top defensive players in girls lacrosse. 

Sarra Sounds Off Ep. 35: EI baseball, girls lacrosse and plays of the week On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," we look at East Islip baseball's inspirational comeback story, Jared Valluzzi has the plays of the week and Tess Ferguson breaks down the top defensive players in girls lacrosse.

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