Major Averages Posting Strong Gains In Mid-Day Trading

(RTTNews) - After moving sharply higher early in the session, stocks continue to turn in a strong performance in mid-day trading on Friday. The markets are benefiting from a positive reaction to a better than expected monthly jobs report.

Housing stocks have shown a strong move back to the upside on the day after moving notably lower over the past few sessions. Reflecting the strength in the sector, the Philadelphia Housing Sector Index has surged up by 2 percent.

M/I Homes (MHO) and KB Home (KBH) are turning in two of the housing sector's best performances, jumping by 4.3 percent and 3.4 percent, respectively.

Computer hardware stocks are also seeing considerable strength, driving the NYSE Arca Computer Hardware Index up by 1.7 percent. With the gain, the index has reached a new record high.

Chemical, financial, and defense stocks are also turning in strong performances, moving higher along with most of the other major sectors amid broad based buying interest.

The major averages are currently posting strong gains, near their highs for the session. The Dow is up 155.60 points or 1 percent at 15,977.11, the Nasdaq is up 31.66 points or 0.8 percent at 4,064.83 and the S&P 500 is up 17.09 points or 1 percent at 1,802.12.