Stocks Rose as French Rating Reaffirmed

U.S. stocks regained momentum Thursday as S&P said it did not downgrade France’s debt and American jobless claims fell. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was lately up 125 points at 11,906.31. The S&P 500 rose 10.79 points to 1,239.89. The Nasdaq Composite added 7.12 points to 2,628.77.

Average rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages fell below 4% for the second time this year, according to Freddie Mac’s latest survey of conforming mortgage rates. Rates on the 30-year mortgage averaged 3.99% for the week ending Nov. 10, down from 4% last week and 4.17% a year ago, McLean, Va.-based Freddie Mac said Thursday.

Foreclosure activity rose 7% in October compared with September, a sign that lenders are picking up the pace after foreclosure processing problems caused delays, RealtyTrac said Thursday.

Foreign exchange trading services provider FXCM Inc. posted a third-quarter profit on Thursday, but its adjusted earnings missed Wall Street estimates.Adjusted earnings, which excludes stock-based compensation and accounts for other unusual items, was $17.1 million, or 23 cents per share. Analysts surveyed by FactSet expected 25 cents per share.