Dow Average Extends Record High on Job Data, Beige Book

U.S. stocks rose, extending the Dow Jones Industrial Average’s record high, as a private report showed companies took on more workers than estimated and the Federal Reserve said the economy is growing.

Bank of America Corp. jumped 3.2 percent to pace gains among financial shares. VeriFone Systems Inc. rose 8.6 percent as the maker of credit-card terminals reported earnings that beat its forecasts. Sohu.com Inc., owner of China’s second-largest online video website, slid 11 percent after saying it’s not in talks to take the company private or delist its stock. Staples Inc. fell 7.2 percent after forecasting profit that was less than analysts estimated.