Wall street stocks lifted by data, earnings Yellen remarks

The benchmark S&P 500 index rose to within a hair of its record high on Thursday as bank stocks got a boost from bets on higher interest rates and consumer discretionary stocks were helped by economic data and earnings. Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen, in her congressional testimony, solidified bets that the central bank was on track to raise interest rates in December. This signaled economic strength and helped consumer stocks as well as financials, said Janna Sampson, co-chief investmen