Rising Commodities, Dealmaking Lift Stocks

That pulled other railroads higher. CSX Corp. rose $3.13, or 7.3 percent, to $45.97, while Norfolk Southern Corp. advanced $2.52, or 5.4 percent, to $49.15.

Black & Decker jumped $14.66, or 31 percent, to $62, while Stanley Works rose $4.54, or 10.1 percent, to $49.69.

Johnson & Johnson fell 56 cents, or 0.9 percent, to $58.93.

Royal Bank of Scotland fell 69 cents, or 5.5 percent, to $11.96, while Lloyds rose 28 cents, or 5.2 percent, to $5.72.

The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies rose 8.22, or 1.5 percent, to 570.62.

Three stocks rose for every two that fell on the New York Stock Exchange, where consolidated volume came to 5.5 billion shares, compared with 6.3 billion Monday.

Overseas, Britain's FTSE 100 fell 1.3 percent, Germany's DAX index fell 1.4 percent, and France's CAC-40 dropped 1.5 percent. Markets in Japan were closed for a holiday.

(This version CORRECTS SUBS 18th graf bgng Investors also ... to correct GM sales increase. SUBS 28th graf bgng Three stocks ... to UPDATE with consolidated volume. Stock prices are as of 4 p.m. Eastern Time.)

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