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Investors sent stock prices higher for a third day in a row Wednesday. Major U.S. indexes rose as more companies reported solid earnings and traders welcomed encouraging news about China's economy. Yahoo and Delta Air Lines were among the companies rising sharply in afternoon trading.

KEEPING SCORE: The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 11 points, or 0.6 percent, to 1,854 as of 1:02 p.m. Eastern Time. The Dow Jones industrial average gained 107 points, or 0.7 percent, to 16,369. The Nasdaq composite added 29 points, or 0.71 percent, to 4,063. All three indexes remain down for the month after several days of choppy trading.

EYE ON EARNINGS: Investors are closely monitoring company earnings this week as they try to assess whether the impact of a severe winter has begun to ease. Financial analysts expect first-quarter earnings for companies the S&P 500 to fall about 1.2 percent, according to S&P Capital IQ.

"We do think ... the market is focused on what seems to be a worst-case scenario not being realized," said Jim Russell, senior equity strategist at U.S. Bank Wealth Management. "Expectations are low enough where many companies will either meet or beat expectations."

YAHOO FOR ASIA: Yahoo jumped $1.93, or 5.7 percent, to $36.16. The Internet pioneer reported late Tuesday that it is making most of its money from its stakes in two Asian Internet companies, China's Alibaba Group and Yahoo Japan. That overshadowed a 20 percent drop in overall first-quarter earnings.

CHINESE GROWTH: The world's second-largest economy grew 7.4 percent from a year earlier in the January-March quarter, down from 7.7 percent in the previous quarter, China's government reported. The growth rate appeared strong enough to satisfy Chinese leaders, who are trying to put the country on a more sustainable path without politically dangerous job losses.

FACTORIES HUMMING: The Federal Reserve said Wednesday that factory production rose 0.5 percent in March after a revised 1.4 percent surge in February. The gains over the past two months follow a winter slowdown in January and December that stalled growth across the economy. Higher production is also a sign of greater demand by businesses and consumers.

SECTOR WATCH: All 10 sectors in the S&P 500 index rose, led by companies that make basic materials. That's a bullish sign. Basic materials companies tend to prosper more than others when the economy is expanding. Manufacturing and construction pick up speed, boosting demand for industrial materials like metals. Aluminum maker Alcoa rose 16 cents, or 1.2 percent, to $13.21 and Eastman Chemical rose $1.84, or 2.1 percent, to $88.10.

LITIGATION LETDOWN: Bank of America slumped after reporting a loss in the first quarter. The bank booked $6 billion in costs related to a previously disclosed legal settlement over its home loan lending practices. The stock fell 42 cents, or 2.6 percent, to $15.96.

TROUBLED TECH: Shares in several companies that make circuits for electronics or data storage took a beating Wednesday. Among the biggest decliners were Linear Technology, which fell $2.16, or 4.6 percent, to $44.97, and Analog Devices, which slid $1.42, or 2.7 percent, to $51.76. Microchip Technology shed 82 cents, or 1.7 percent, to $46.37.

CHILL ON THE TRACKS: CSX fell 92 cents, or 3.3 percent, to $27.38. Severe winter weather contributed to a 14 percent drop in CSX's first-quarter earnings, even as the railroad company's freight volume grew modestly. CSX executives expect modest profit growth for the year, but they also said the impact of the harsh winter will linger into the current quarter.

TREASURYS: Bond prices fell. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 2.64 percent from 2.63 percent late Tuesday.