Andrew Kelly/Reuters
- US stocks rose on Friday, boosted by a streak of strong earnings reports.
- 79% of S&P 500 companies that reported earnings have beated estimates, according to FactSet.
- Investors digested fresh bank weakness amid reports that First Republic is headed for FDIC receivership.
US stocks gained on Friday with the Dow Jones Industrial Average wrapping up its best month since January as first quarter earnings surprise to the upside, helping investors sidestep fresh concerns about the banking sector.
All three major indexes ended the day in the green, with the Dow locking in a gain of 2.5% for the month of April.