The S&P 500 was up 0.5% in midday trading to 2,762.73.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.8% to 24,648.03.
The Nasdaq was flat at 7,711.65.
The yield on a 10-year Treasury bond was 0.5% higher to 2.91%.
The price of gold was flat at $1,271.
MANUFACTURING
American Vanguard Corp. (NYSE: AVD) in Newport Beach was up 2.9% to $23.05 and a $688 million market cap. A unit of the chemicals maker bought a herbicide line of products from Bayer Crop Science.
RESTAURANTS
Del Taco Restaurants Inc. (Nasdaq: TACO) in Lake Forest was up 6.1% to $13.74 and a $529 million market cap. The fast food chain said branding and design elements will change to focus on consumer demand for fresh and local ingredients.
HEALTHCARE
Avid Bioservices Inc. (Nasdaq:CDMO) in Tustin was up 7.8% to $3.53 and a $195 million market cap. It’s a contract drug manufacturer.
