Pursuits
U.S. Stocks Advance as S&P 500 Extends Best 1Q Gain Since 1998
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U.S. stocks rose, extending the biggest first-quarter rally in 13 years for the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, as a report showing companies added more workers in March bolstered optimism about the economy.
Cephalon Inc. surged 28 percent for the biggest jump in the S&P 500 after Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc. offered to buy the maker of sleep and pain drugs. Visa Inc. climbed 2.8 percent on speculation that curbs on debit-card fees will be delayed or modified. AT&T Inc. rallied as its chief executive officer pitched the company’s acquisition of T-Mobile USA as a way to boost network capacity and improve service.