US share prices up as markets turn favourable

US stocks rebounded in weekend trade from the previous Federal Reserve-sparked losses, as markets turned to favorable US economic data for inspiration. The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished up 108.88 points (0.67 percent) at 16,331.05. The broad-based S&P 500 advanced 11.24 (0.60 percent) to 1,872.01, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index rose 11.68 (0.27 percent) to 4,319.29. Big gainers included AT&T, up 3.4 percent, as it announced that it would start taking orders of the Samsung Galaxy 5S phone. Microsoft moved 2.7 percent higher, in part in anticipation of the announcement that it will release an Office software suite tailored for rival Apple's iPads. Banks also were strong ahead of the post-closing bell release of the results of the Federal Reserve’s annual stress tests. All but one of the 30 leading bank holding companies showed they had the capital strength to withstand a severe economic crisis; only Zions Bancorp did not beat the minimum capital threshold. Bank of America gained 2.8 percent, JPMorgan Chase 3.1 percent, Wells Fargo 2.6 percent, and Citigroup 2.6 percent, according to a news agency.