Stocks Ended Higher, Led by Financials

U.S. stocks ended higher on Thursday, with financials leading advances after regulators eased some post-financial crisis restrictions for big banks. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 299.66 points, or 1.18%, to 25,745.60. The S&P 500 rose 33.43 points, or 1.18%, to 3,083.76. The Nasdaq Composite gained 107.84 points, or 1.09%, to 10,017.00.

Oil futures settled higher on Thursday after posting two consecutive sessions of declines. West Texas Intermediate crude for August tacked on 71 cents, or 1.9%, to settle at $38.72 a barrel. Brent oil for August delivery BRNQ20, +0.95% rose 74 cents, or 1.8%, to reach $41.05 a barrel.

The Federal Reserve, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. approved changes to the Volcker Rule Thursday that let banks increase their dealings with certain funds by providing more clarity on what’s allowed. The regulators also scrapped a requirement that lenders hold margin when trading derivatives with their affiliates.