The S&P 500 was up 0.4% in midday trading to 2,111.50.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.6% to 17,939.13.
The Nasdaq was up 0.5% to 5,151.97.
The yield on a 10-year Treasury bond was up 1.5% to 2.22%.
The price of gold was down 2% to $1,114.
AGRICULTURE
Newport Beach-based American Vanguard Corp. was up 12% to $15.10 and a $441 million market cap. The specialty chemicals maker yesterday posted quarterly earnings of about $3 million, almost double analysts’ expectations, on revenue of $72 million. The company attributed the quarterly results to acquisitions and cost-cutting. Separately American Vanguard said a subsidiary had licensed a soybean crop herbicide from BASF for use in the U.S. and its territories.
RESTAURANTS
Lake Forest-based Del Taco Restaurants Inc. was up 5% to $12 and a $467 million market cap. Analysts at Jeffries initiated coverage on the fast food chain with a “buy” rating and a price target of $16.
SERVICES
Irvine-based Consumer Portfolio Services Inc. was up 6% to $5.40 and a $140 million market cap. The automobile lending servicer had traded shares at an above-average volume by midday.
