U.S. stocks rose for the first time in four days as lower oil prices, improved business activity and a Treasury plan to help prevent financial crises boosted expectations the economy will weather growing credit losses. The S&P 500 climbed 7.48 points, or 0.6 percent, to 1,322.7, reducing its monthly loss to 0.6 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased 46.49, or 0.4 percent, to 12,262.89. The Nasdaq Composite Index added 17.92, or 0.8 percent, to 2,279.1.

(Bloomberg)