Wall Street gains on renewed earnings optimism

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wall Street resumed its rally on Monday, led by natural resources and tech shares as investors saw stocks regaining momentum lost late last week.

A share-buyback from Dow component Intel helped revive optimism, which has been reinforced by more strong profit reports. Three-quarters of the 84 S&P 500 companies that have reported results so far in this earnings season have beaten analysts' estimates.

"Strong earnings are what's pushing the market higher and I don't see a correction in sight until the (earnings) season is over," said Keith Springer, president of Springer Financial Advisors in Sacramento, California.

"Even after the earnings, I don't think we will see a major correction but rather a pause or a breather since there isn't a major fundamental issue."

Volatility indicators in the options market also suggested a turnaround after the S&P's decline last week when the benchmark index fell after seven straight weeks of gains.

On Monday the Dow Jones industrial average ended up 108.68 points, or 0.92 percent, at 11,980.52. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index was up 7.49 points, or 0.58 percent, at 1,290.84. The Nasdaq Composite Index was up 28.01 points, or 1.04 percent, at 2,717.55.

The blue-chip Dow neared the psychologically

important 12,000, pulled higher by natural resources stocks like Alcoa while the Nasdaq gained more than 1 percent on large-cap tech shares.

Shares of Alcoa Inc jumped 4 percent to $16.43 after its chief executive said he sees continued demand for aluminum in 2011.

The S&P materials sector advanced 1 percent. Copper prices rose as concerns about a decrease in Chinese demand were replaced by worries over supply constraints.

Intel Corp shares rose 2 percent to $21.24 after it raised its dividend by 15 percent and authorized another $10 billion for stock repurchases, a sign larger technology companies with slower growth may be looking for ways to reward investors. [ID:nN24174600]

The Credit Suisse Fear Barometer, a gauge for investor sentiment, hit a six-month high late last week and the CBOE Volatility Index , a similar gauge, also jumped more than 10 percent from its lowest point over the past week.

"When we've seen a high CSFB (Credit Suisse Fear Barometer) and jumpy VIX in the past, it has usually meant a short-term rebound in the S&P," said Jason Goepfert of SentimenTrader in a report.

Chip-makers recovered from last week's fall with Nvidia Corp shares jumping 11.4 percent to $24.76 after Barron's said its stock could nearly double in price this year.

After the closing bell, VMware Inc shares rose 3.8 percent to $91.18 following results.

Shares of oilfield services company Halliburton Co gained 1 percent to $39.55 in regular trading after reporting earnings.

J.C. Penney Co Inc shares jumped 6.8 percent to $32.40 on news activist investor William Ackman will join the department store operator's board next month, heading off a potential fight over the direction of its turnaround.

(Additional reporting by Doris Frankel in Chicago; Editing by Kenneth Barry)