How the major stock indexes fared Wednesday

[January 13, 2011]  (AP) -- Stocks closed at their highest levels in more than two years Wednesday after a successful bond auction in Portugal eased worries about Europe's debt crisis. Financial firms led stocks higher on hopes that banks would start raising their dividends this year. The Dow and S&P 500 closed at their highest levels since August 2008.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 83.56 points, or 0.7 percent, to close at 11,755.44

The S&P 500 index gained 11.48, or 0.9 percent, to 1,285.96.

The Nasdaq composite rose 20.50, or 0.8 percent, to 2,737.33.

For the week to date:

• The Dow is 80.68, or 0.7 percent.

• The S&P is up 14.46, or 1.1 percent.

• The Nasdaq is up 34.16, or 1.3 percent.

For the year to date:

• The Dow is up 177.93, or 1.5 percent.

• The S&P is up 28.32, or 2.3 percent.

• The Nasdaq is up 84.46 or 3.2 percent.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.