U.S. stocks gained, driving the S&P 500 Index to the steepest four-day surge since 1933, as a rally in oil prices lifted energy shares and investors speculated President-elect Barack Obama’s economic team will bolster growth.

Exxon Mobil Corp. and Chevron Corp., the biggest U.S. oil companies, were among the largest contributors to the advance as crude jumped 7.2 percent to trade above $50 a barrel for a third day. General Motors Corp., which will make its case for federal bailout funds after tomorrow’s Thanksgiving holiday, rallied 35 percent. The market overcame an early tumble spurred by government reports depicting a deepening recession.

The S&P 500 climbed 3.5 percent to 887.68 after falling as much as 1.9 percent. The index has now surged 18 percent since dropping to an 11-year low on Nov. 20. The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased 247.14 points, or 2.9 percent, to 8,726.61.

(Bloomberg.com)