U.S. stocks close higher

NEW YORK, April 13 (Xinhua) -- U.S. stocks ended higher on Monday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 301.68 points, or 0.63 percent, to 48,218.25. The S&P 500 added 69.35 points, or 1.02 percent, to 6,886.24. The Nasdaq Composite Index increased by 280.842 points, or 1.23 percent, to 23,183.736.

Nine of the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors ended in green, with financials and technology leading the gainers by going up 1.73 percent and 1.72 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, utilities and consumer staples led the laggards by dropping 1.19 percent and 1.04 percent, respectively.