S&P 500 index is on track for a third weekly gain

2/21/2014

Trader Gregory Rowe, center, works at the post of specialist Joseph Mastrolia, left, on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Friday, Feb. 21, 2014. U.S. stocks are inching higher in early trading, putting the Standard & Poor's 500 index on track for its third straight week of gains. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK — Stocks are higher in midday trading as the Standard & Poor’s 500 index heads for a third straight week of gains.

Priceline.com climbed after the travel booking company reported strong earnings.

The S&P 500 index rose five points, or 0.3 percent, to 1,844 as of noon today.

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 38 points, or 0.2 percent, to 16,172. The Nasdaq composite rose 13 points, or 0.9 percent, 4,280.

Groupon plunged 18 percent after the online deals company forecast weak results for the whole year and said it would post a loss this quarter.

If the S&P 500 ends the week higher, it would be the longest stretch of gains since an eight-week span from early October through November. So far it’s up 0.3 percent for the week.