The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 253.16 points, or 2.33 per cent, to 11,119.86, and the Nasdaq composite index was up 75.94 points, or 1.56 per cent at 4,940.69, according to provisional numbers at the close of trading yesterday. The Standard and Poor's 500 continued to climb into record territory, with a 26.71 point increase, or 1.78 per cent, to 1,527.35.

Progress was made especially by blue-chip issues including General Electric, JP Morgan, American Express, Microsoft and General Motors.

On the bond market, the average yield on the 30-year Treasury bond fell to 5.904 per cent against 5.960 per cent late on Wednesday, while the yield on the 10-year bond fell to 6.070 per cent from 6.120 per cent. Bond yields move inversely to bond prices.