Stock closed mostly higher, helped by positive earnings at several big companies, including Apple and Caterpillar. The gains were modest, though; the tension over Ukraine was back at center stage, and some earnings reports, such as from 3M and Facebook, failed to impress investors. Still, it was the seventh time in the last eight days the S&P 500 closed higher. Apple was among the biggest gainers, up 8% on forecast-beating profit and news that it will enlarge its buyback program to $90 billion from $60 billion, raise its dividend, and split its stock seven-for-one. Caterpillar said its quarterly earnings rose 5% and raised its forecast.
Source : http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2014/04/24/stocks-mostly-higher-earnings-gains-apple/fuU5V9nnfXpmgzjJoxzV3K/story.html
