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U.S. Stocks Advance on Investor Optimism Over Earnings
U.S. stocks rose as investors speculated first-quarter earnings would help equities rebound from their biggest weekly decline of the year. Alcoa Inc. rose 1.8 percent in regular trading, before reporting first-quarter results that disappointed investors after the market close. Advanced Micro Devices Inc. rose the most in the S&P 500 after Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) was said to use AMD chips in its next Xbox game console. BioCryst Pharmaceuticals Inc. surged 13 percent as China expedited the approval of its anti-influenza drug Peramivir. Lufkin Industries Inc. (LUFK) jumped 38 percent as General Electric Co. agreed to buy ... (full story)