Wall Street higher as banks lift shares

04/05/2009 - 13:45

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks rose on Monday as investors hoped stress tests on the biggest banks will provide a clearer picture of the extent of the problems facing the financial sector and whether the banks will be able to raise any capital they may need.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 61.33 points, or 0.75 percent, to 8,273.74. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index added 6.96 points, or 0.79 percent, to 884.48. The Nasdaq Composite Index put on 13.59 points, or 0.79 percent, at 1,732.79.

(Reporting by Leah Schnurr ;Editing by Padraic Cassidy)