Wednesday

Telecommunications stocks led U.S. indexes higher today, as optimism over deal activity added to confidence that jobs data would continue pointing to a strengthening labor market. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was led by AT&T, which gained 2.2% after Chief Executive Randall Stephenson said he expects some divestitures as his company pursues the buyout of T-Mobile USA from Deutsche Telekom. Investors said the market was also looking ahead with more confidence to Friday's key government jobs report. DJIA +71.60 Nasdaq +19.90 S&P 500 +8.82.