US stocks jump as Brits go to polls

NEW YORK (AP) - U.S. stocks made their biggest gain in a month Thursday as investors grew more optimistic Britons will vote to stay in the European Union. Investors bought stocks and sold bonds, sending bond yields and banks higher.

On the last trading day before results from the British referendum, stocks continued to rise as investors grew more confident Britain won't leave the union. 

U.S. stocks have advanced about 2 percent this week. Before that, the market slumped as investors worried a "leave" vote would disrupt the economies of Britain and Europe. Throughout this year, the market has bobbed up and down as investors traded on political and central bank news, like the British referendum and comments from the Federal Reserve.

The Dow Jones industrial average jumped 230.24 points, or 1.3 percent, to 18,011.07. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 27.87 points, also 1.3 percent, to 2,113.32. The Nasdaq composite climbed 76.72 points, or 1.6 percent, to 4,910.04.