New York, NY, United States (AHN) – Confidence returned to Wall Street on Wednesday as business prospects emerging from the reconstruction of devastated Japan drove stocks up.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 67 points or 0.6 percent in a midday rally to close at 12,086. Alcoa Inc. led gainers and Bank of American was the top loser.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 4 points or 0.3 percent to 1,297.

The Nasdaq Composite Index rose 14 points or 0.5 percent to settle at 2,698.

Oil for May delivery rose 73 cents or 0.7 percent to $105.75 a barrel.

Gold futures for April delivery rose $10.40 or 0.7 percent to $1,438 an ounce.

View full post on All Stories