Gains in financial, energy stocks lift Wall St

Wall Street was higher in afternoon trading on Wednesday, extending gains from Tuesday as oil prices rose and investors became more comfortable with the prospect of an interest rate hike as early as next month. The S&P financial index was up 0.95 percent, after hitting its highest this year in morning trading. Bank of America, JPMorgan and Citigroup were up between 1.5 and 2 percent.