Markets Right Now: S&P 500 has its best month since 2015

NEW YORK (AP) - The latest on developments in financial markets (all times local):

4 p.m.

Stocks ended broadly higher on Wall Street, giving the S&P 500 index its best monthly gain since 2015.

A series of strong earnings helped power the monthlong rally, which followed a dismal December that nearly brought the benchmark index into a bear market.

Facebook helped drive the market higher on Thursday, posting a 10.8 percent gain after reporting solid user metrics.

Charter Communications soared 14.2 percent after its revenue came in ahead of forecasts. General Electric climbed 11.6 percent.

The S&P 500 added 23 points, or 0.9 percent, to 2,704. It rose 7.9 percent in January.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged down 15 points to 24,999. The Nasdaq gained 98 points, or 1.4 percent, to 7,281.

Bond price rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 2.64 percent.

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11:45 a.m.

Stocks are shaking off a mixed start and turning higher in midday trading on Wall Street, keeping the S&P 500 on track to post its best monthly gain since 2015.

The big gains in January for stocks followed a dismal December.

Facebook jumped 12.5 percent Thursday after reporting solid user metrics, and cable and internet provider Charter Communications soared 15.2 percent after its revenue came in ahead of forecasts.

Energy companies rose along with the price of oil. ConocoPhillips rose 3.2 percent.

The S&P 500 index added 26 points, or 1 percent, to 2,707.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average was little changed at 25,022. The Nasdaq gained 112 points, or 1.6 percent, to 7,295.

Bond price rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 2.63 percent.

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9:35 a.m.

Stocks are off to an uneven start on Wall Street as investors pore over a mixed bag of earnings reports from big U.S. companies.

Facebook jumped 10.8 percent in early trading Thursday after reporting solid user metrics, but chocolate maker Hershey slid 3.9 percent after releasing a disappointing revenue forecast.

Energy companies rose along with the price of oil. ConocoPhillips rose 2 percent.

The S&P 500 index was little changed at 2,681.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 146 points, or 0.6 percent, to 24,868. The Nasdaq gained 34 points, or 0.5 percent, to 7,216.

Bond price rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 2.66 percent.