US Stocks Higher on Solid Earnings     07/23 09:51

    U.S. stocks moved higher in early trading Tuesday on Wall Street as several 
major companies reported solid second quarter earnings.

   NEW YORK (AP) -- U.S. stocks moved higher in early trading Tuesday on Wall 
Street as several major companies reported solid second quarter earnings.

   Corporate earnings are now in full swing after last week's relatively light 
load of mixed results. Nearly 150 companies in the S&P 500 will report their 
financial results through Friday. Analysts are expecting this round of earnings 
to be weak.

   JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and several other banks gained ground as 
bond yields rose. Higher bond yields allow banks to charge more interest on 
loans.

   Coca-Cola soared after beating Wall Street's second quarter profit 
forecasts. The surprisingly good results helped lift other consumer product 
makers. Kraft Heinz rose 1.7% and Kellogg rose 1.8%

   Stanley Black & Decker rose 6.6% after it reported second quarter profit 
well above analysts' forecasts. The tool maker made one of the biggest gains in 
the industrial sector. General Electric rose 2.6% and United Technologies rose 
1.8%.

   Utilities lagged the market as investors moved away from defensive holdings 
and took on more risk.

   KEEPING SCORE: The S&P 500 index rose 0.2% as of 10 a.m. Eastern time. The 
Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 72 points, or 0.3%, to 27,245. The Nasdaq 
composite rose 0.1%.

   OVERSEAS: European stocks moved broadly higher, though London's FTSE 100 was 
relatively flat after Boris Johnson was named as the new prime minister, a move 
that could increase the risks of a disorderly Brexit. Germany's DAX soared 1.8% 
and France's CAC 40 rose 1%.

   STOCK POP: Coca-Cola rose 5% after the beverage company raised its revenue 
forecast for the year following a solid second quarter. The company reported 3% 
growth in sales of its namesake soft drinks and it has been expanding into 
energy drinks and coffee.

   WELL PLAYED: Hasbro rose 6.1% after blowing away Wall Street's second 
quarter profit forecasts. The toy maker reported growth for many of its classic 
games and toys, including the board game Monopoly and Play-Doh. It also 
reported growth for its digital game "Magic: The Gathering" and got some help 
from its partnership with Marvel on Avengers and Spiderman action figures.

   QUALITY TOOLS: Stanley Black & Decker rose 5.4% after the tool maker beat 
Wall Street's profit forecasts for the second quarter. The company reported 
increases in sales volumes and prices for its tools and storage products.

   OIL: Crude oil prices remained mostly flat. Benchmark edged down 0.3%. Brent 
crude oil, the international standard, were flat. Energy prices have been 
volatile over the last few weeks as tensions between the U.S. and Iran 
intensify. 

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