Stock Market

US stocks rallied on Monday, driving the S&P 500 into positive territory for the year as investors bet banks' capital shortfalls may be manageable and housing data fuelled hopes the recession is easing. Bank stocks were the standouts, with Citigroup up 7.7 percent at $3.20 and Bank of America climbing 19.3 percent to $10.38. Wells Fargo jumped 23.7 percent to $24.25, while J.P. Morgan shot up 10.2 percent to $35.79.