US stocks leap amid Europe optimism

US stock markets closed with strong gains today, amid signs that European leaders might be coming together to tackle the continent's debt crisis. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 141.56 points (1.27 per cent) to 11,247.41 in closing trade. The broader S&P 500 rose 15.84 points (1.35 per cent) to 1188.71, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite surged 93.22 points (1.58 per cent) to 2572.17. Talks between the leaders of Germany, France and debt-ridden Greece, as well as comments by European Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso about the need for unified "eurobonds," helped lift the markets to a strong finish. Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar. End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.