U.S. Stocks Advance as Euro Weakens, Treasury Notes Gain

U.S. stocks rose, erasing an early drop, as gains in transportation, technology and consumer-staple companies overshadowed a slowdown in service-industry growth and China’s interest-rate boost. The euro slid and Treasuries rose after Portugal’s credit rating was cut to junk.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index advanced 0.1 percent to 1,339.22 at 4 p.m. in New York, its sixth gain in seven days. The euro sank 0.8 percent to $1.4314 while the 10-year Treasury yield touched a one-week low. The yield on Portugal’s 10-year bond surged 204 basis points to a record above 13 percent, erasing the drop last week that followed Greece’s approval of austerity measures aimed at winning financial aid. The two-year Irish yield soared 243 basis points to 15.31 percent. Wheat, cotton and natural gas led losses in commodities.