Earnings Gains Send Stocks Higher; Ford Rises

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are closing higher after earnings gains at major U.S. companies including Ford and Southwest Airlines.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 95 points, or 0.6 percent, to close at 15,509 Thursday.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index increased five points, or 0.3 percent, at 1,752, just two points below the record high it closed at on Tuesday.

The Nasdaq composite rose 21 points, or 0.6 percent, to 3,929.

Ford rose 24 cents, or 1 percent, to $17.76 after posting record earnings and raising its full-year profit forecast.

Southwest rose 61 cents, or 4 percent, to $17.02. Average fares were higher and fuel costs fell.

Three stocks rose for every two that fell on the New York Stock Exchange. Volume was heavier than usual at 3.6 billion shares.