U.S. stocks end higher, led by banks, tech; S&P above 1,300 for first time since July 28

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch)
U.S. stocks closed higher Wednesday, extending their gains to a second-straight session, with
the S&P 500 Index closing above the key 1,300 level for the first time since late July
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 96.88 points for the session, or 0.8%, to close at 12,578.95 Stocks rose "due to positive earnings, relatively good economic data and the absence of bad news in euro-land," said Keith Springer, president of Springer Financial Advisors
 "We've been following the play book of the last few years where we flutter right before earnings season and then rally during
 Expect a pullback once earnings are done
" The S&P 500 added 14.37 points, or 1.1%, to end at 1,308.04, its first close above 1,300 since July 28 The Nasdaq Composite tacked on 41.63 points, or 1.5%, to close at 2,769.71.