US stocks post 4th straight gain
NEW YORK (AP) - Stocks climbed broadly on Tuesday as investors who had been fretting over the Greek debt crisis and plunging Chinese stocks turned their attention back to the U.S. economy and corporate earnings reports.
The market rose broadly after JPMorgan Chase and Johnson & Johnson reported second-quarter profits that were stronger than expected. A government report showed that Americans cut back on spending at retailers last month, but some investors interpreted that as good for stocks since it may make the Federal Reserve more cautious when it starts raising rates for the first time in nine years.
The gains were modest, but broad. Among the 10 industry sectors of the Standard and Poor's 500 index, only utilities fell. It was the fourth straight gain in a row for the broader index.
The S&P 500 increased 9.35 points, or 0.5 percent, to 2,108.95. The Dow Jones industrial average gained 75.90 points, or 0.4 percent, to 18,053.58. The Nasdaq composite climbed 33.38 points, or 0.7 percent, to 5,104.89.
Blue Cross Blue Shield to offer ID protection services
NEW YORK (AP) - Blue Cross and Blue Shield will be providing identity protection services to all eligible members across the U.S. by the start of the new year.
The services - which include credit monitoring, fraud detection and fraud resolution - will be available to eligible members for as long as they have a Blue Cross and Blue Shield insurance policy.
Providing health coverage to more than 106 million members, Blue Cross and Blue Shield will contact customers directly to let them know how to obtain the services.
Fake story on buyout sends Twitter stock briefly higher
NEW YORK (AP) - Twitter's stock briefly spiked on Tuesday after a fake story said the company received a $31 billion buyout offer.
The story, which cited "people with knowledge of the situation," appeared on a website made to look like Bloomberg's business news page.
The website was registered Friday, according to a search of the nonprofit Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, and the identity of the registering person or company is not publicly available.
Spokesman Ty Trippet said the story is "fake and appeared on a bogus website not affiliated with Bloomberg."