Dow soars 400 points, led by rally in tech sector
By Associated Press
Dec 18, 2014 3:14 PM CST
Traders work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange in New York, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014. The market is opening sharply higher, building on gains from the day before after the Federal Reserve indicated it was in no rush to raise interest rates. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)   (Associated Press)

NEW YORK (AP) — The Dow Jones industrial average had its biggest day in three years, soaring more than 400 points as the stock market extended a rally into a second day.

The Dow closed up 421 points, or 2.4 percent, to 17,778 Thursday, its largest gain since December 2011.

The Standard & Poor's 500 gained 48 points, or 2.4 percent, to 2,061. The Nasdaq composite climbed 104 points, or 2.2 percent, to 4,748.

The market built on its surge from the day before, when the Federal Reserve indicated it was in no rush to raise interest rates.

Oracle led a rally in technology shares after the business software maker reported earnings that were better than expected.

Bond prices fell. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 2.21 percent.