Stock market rises after good news on earnings, job market; Dow up 225

NEW YORK (AP) -- The U.S. stock market closed sharply higher Thursday after investors received encouraging news on corporate earnings and the jobs market.<br /> <br /> The Dow Jones industrial average jumped 225 points, or 1.3 percent, to close at 17,416. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 19 points, or 1 percent, to 2,021.<br /> <br /> The government reported Thursday that weekly claims for unemployment benefits dropped to a 15-year low. Ford, Harley-Davidson, Coach and Ally Financial were among the companies that reported quarterly results that exceeded Wall Street's expectations<br /> <br /> The yield on the 10-year Treasury note edged up to 1.76 percent from 1.72 late Wednesday.