Stock Market Update

[BRIEFING.COM] The S&P 500 (+0.3%), Nasdaq Composite (+0.5%), and DJIA (+0.1%) now sit higher across the board as a few other sectors shake off some early sluggishness to join the information technology sector (+1.2%) in positive territory. 

Semiconductor stocks are at their best levels of the session, pushing the PHLX Semiconductor Index 1.0% higher.

The materials sector (+0.5%) now holds a solid gain as precious metals producers Freeport-McMoRan (FCX 63.24, +2.57, +4.24%) and Newmont Corporation (NEM 118.88, +3.56, +3.08%) are boosted by rising gold and silver prices this morning.