The S&P 500 was up 0.8% in midday trading to 2,077.58.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.9% to 17,881.00.
The NASDAQ up 1.2% to 4,928.18.
The yield on a 10-year Treasury bond was down 1% to 1.76%.
The price of gold was down 1% to $1,249.
REAL ESTATE
Orange County homebuilders were up on comments today by U.S. Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen, who in an interview laid out a generally cautious approach toward monetary policy this year.
Irvine-based CalAtlantic Group Inc. was up 2.6% to $35.09 and a $4.3 billion market cap. Irvine-based Tri Pointe Group Inc. was up 3.1% to $12.22 and a $2 billion market cap. Newport Beach-based William Lyon Homes was up 3.3% to $15.76 and a $500 million market cap. Aliso Viejo-based New Home Co. Inc. was up 1.6% to $12.44 and a $260 million market cap.
