Stocks are rising sharply after several big U.S. companies reported solid third-quarter earnings. The Dow Jones industrial average is up more than 200 points.
McDonald’s Corp. rose 2.7 percent after reporting a 9 percent increase in income. Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. rose 6.8 percent after reporting at 25-percent jump in third-quarter profits.
Traders continue to monitor talks between European leaders on how to deal with Greece’s debt crisis. They have postponed until next week any announcement about a deal to bail out Greece and prop up Europe’s struggling banks.
Shortly before noon Friday, the Dow is up 207, or 1.8 percent, at 11,749.
The Standard & Poor’s 500 index is up 19, or 1.6 percent, at 1,235. The Nasdaq is up 38, or 1.5 percent, at 2,637.