U.S. stocks boosted by pair of corporate deals, signs of strength in manufacturing

12/16/2013

NEW YORK — Corporate deals and fresh evidence of a stronger economy are giving the stock market a jolt.

LSI Corp. rose today after chipmaker Avago Technologies said it was buying the company for $6.6 billion. AIG was up after it announced the sale of its aircraft leasing business for about $5.4 billion.

The Federal Reserve says factory production accelerated in November as auto production surged. The gains show manufacturing is strengthening and could help boost economic growth.

The Dow Jones industrial average jumped 129, or 0.8 percent, to close at 15,884.57. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index climbed 11 points, or 0.6 percent, to 1,786.54. The Nasdaq rose 28 points, or 0.7 percent, to 4,029.52.

The stock market has ended with weekly declines for two straight weeks.