US stocks rise at midday
US stock market rises at midday; traders turn their focus to corporate earnings
Trader Luke Scanlon, right, works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Monday, July 8, 2013. Stocks rose in early trading Monday ahead of the start of second-quarter corporate earnings reports. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
NEW YORK (AP) -- The stock market is up in midday trading as upcoming corporate earnings take the spotlight.
The Dow Jones industrial average was up 72 points at 15,207 at 12:41 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The Standard & Poor's 500 climbed seven points to 1,639. The Nasdaq was up less than a point to 3,480.
Wall Street is turning its attention to the performance of companies during the recent second quarter. Alcoa kicks off the reporting Monday, when it announces results after the close of trading. Corporate America's profit growth is expected to slow from the first quarter, although it remains near record levels.
Dell's stock price was up 38 cents, or 3 percent, at $13.40 after an advisory firm recommended that company shareholders support a plan to take the computer giant private.
