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Wall Street rises; Merck tempers reform fears


    NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rose on Friday as drug company Merck & Co Inc eased concerns about the financial impact of healthcare reform. The Dow and S&P closed a 19-month highs.

    The Dow Jones industrial average gained 69.99 points, or 0.63 percent, to 11,204.28, according to the latest available figures. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index gained 8.61 points, or 0.71 percent, to 1,217.28. The Nasdaq Composite Index gained 11.08 points, or 0.44 percent, to 2,530.15.

    (Reporting by Edward Krudy; Editing by Kenneth Barry)