Stocks hold gains on Wall Street

Early losses on optimism surrounding US jobs, Greece erased

ASSOCIATED PRESS

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NEW YORK — Stocks closed higher as Greece appeared close to announcing a deal with creditors to reduce its debt.

The Dow Jones industrial average ended at its highest level since May, 2008, Tuesday.

The Dow rose 33 points to close at 12,878. It hasn't closed higher since before the financial crisis. It had been down as many as 62 points in the first half-hour of trading.

The Standard & Poor's 500 gained 3 points to 1,347. The Nasdaq composite rose 2 points to 2,904.

Indexes rose on a report that Greek leaders will soon tell European finance ministers they've formed a deal to reduce the country's massive debt. Stocks also rose on news that U.S. job openings soared to the highest level in nearly three years in December.

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