U.S. stocks rose, sending benchmark indexes to the highest levels in two weeks, after falling interest rates and an agreement to restructure $33.3 billion of Canadian commercial debt improved the outlook for credit markets.

SLM Corp., Citigroup Inc. and American International Group Inc. carried financial shares to the steepest gain in the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index as banks’ borrowing costs decreased for a fifth day. Target Corp. led retailers higher after activist investor William Ackman said he held talks with management about boosting the stock price.

The S&P 500 increased 11.99, or 0.8 percent, to 1,496.45, bringing its yearly gain to 5.5 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 98.68, or 0.7 percent, to 13,549.33. The Nasdaq Composite Index added 21.51, or 0.8 percent, to 2,713.50. More than 11 stocks gained for every three that fell on the New York Stock Exchange. Stocks in Asia and Europe also climbed. [MORE]