Market Recap: Retail Report Sends Stocks Higher

Markets closed up today:

▲ Dow: +0.72 percent

▲ Nasdaq: +0.66 percent

▲ S&P: +0.81 percent

Precious metals:

▼ Gold: -1.01 percent to $1,736.20 an ounce

▼Silver: -2.43 percent to settle at $32.67

Commodities:

▲ Oil: +0.01 percent

Stocks were up because:

Stocks rose on Monday after a strong gain in retail spending suggested that consumers are comfortable spending more money. Bank stocks rose broadly after Citigroup delivered a strong earnings report.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 95.38 points to close at 13,424.23, its biggest gain since Sept. 13.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index was up 11.54 points at 1,440.13 and the Nasdaq composite index rose 20.07 points to 3,064.18.

Companies that rely on consumer spending, like Lowe's, TJX Cos. and Yum Brands, rose after the government reported that retail sales rose 1.1 percent in the U.S. last month. The Commerce Department also revised August growth up to 1.2 percent, marking the two largest gains since October 2010.

Sales rose in most major categories. Electronics and appliances jumped 4.5 percent with help from the new iPhone. Sales at auto dealers increased 1.3 percent. Building materials and garden supplies, furniture and clothing sales all gained, too.

Citigroup rose $1.91, or 5.5 percent, to $36.66 after beating beat Wall Street earnings estimates.

Most other financial stocks followed Citi higher. Bank of America rose 3.5 percent, and JPMorgan Chase rose 1.8 percent. However, Wells Fargo continued to struggle after reporting a record profit on Friday. Analysts warned it might have trouble making money on interest payments for loans. Its stock fell 1 percent on Monday, after dropping on Friday, too.

Economic figures from China helped support markets in Europe at the start of a week that could offer greater clarity on the economic fates of Greece and Spain.

China's inflation rate fell to 1.9 percent in September from 2 percent the month before, reinforcing investor hopes for more stimulus in the world's second-largest economy.

Good news for two major drugmakers boosted pharmaceutical stocks and pushed the whole health sector to the biggest gains among 10 industry groups in the S&P 500.

Telecommunications stocks were the only declining industry among the 10 in the S&P 500.

Investors sold government bonds and drove yields slightly higher. The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note rose to 1.67 percent from 1.66 percent Friday.

The price of crude oil fell a penny to finish at $91.85 on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.