S&P 500 Has Best Month Since 2015

Stocks ended broadly higher on Wall Street, giving the S&P 500 index its best monthly gain since 2015, the AP reports. A series of strong earnings helped power the monthlong rally, which followed a dismal December that nearly brought the benchmark index into a bear market. Facebook helped drive the market higher on Thursday, posting a 10.8% gain after reporting solid user metrics. Charter Communications soared 14.2% after its revenue came in ahead of forecasts. General Electric climbed 11.6%. The S&P 500 added 23 points, or 0.9%, to 2,704. It rose 7.9% in January. The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged down 15 points to 24,999. The Nasdaq gained 98 points, or 1.4%, to 7,281. (Read more stock market stories.)