US stocks rise broadly, led by gains in the energy sector
By KEN SWEET, Associated Press
Apr 12, 2016 3:06 PM CDT
FILE - This April 22, 2010, file photo, shows a Wall Street sign in front of the New York Stock Exchange. U.S. stocks edged mostly higher in early trading as first-quarter company earnings got off to a mixed start. Energy companies and banks were among the early winners Tuesday, April 12, 2016. (AP...   (Associated Press)

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks closed higher on Wall Street, led by big gains in oil and gas companies as energy prices climb.

Southwestern Energy jumped 15 percent Tuesday and Marathon Oil increased 12 percent.

The price of U.S. crude oil rose 4.5 percent and natural gas rose 4 percent in New York.

Earnings didn't get off to a promising start for U.S. companies. Aluminum maker Alcoa sank 3 percent after reporting revenue that fell short of analysts' forecasts.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 164 points, or 0.9 percent, to 17,721.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index gained 19 points, or 1 percent, to 2,061. The Nasdaq composite added 38 points, or 0.8 percent, to 4,872.

Bond prices fell. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 1.77 percent.