Fueled by the Aetna offer, shares of other health care companies also advanced strongly.

Banks, among the other beneficiaries of lower interest rates, advanced strongly, with Suntrust up 1 3/4, to 46.

Many biotechnology and drug stocks advanced strongly for the second straight day.

The price of the auto maker's stock advanced strongly today despite a downward trend among other car companies.

The prices for delivery in later months also advanced strongly.

But the stock market advanced strongly, in part on expectations of economic improvement, traders said.

Markets Stocks advanced broadly and strongly on a burst of economic optimism.

Natural resource stocks advanced strongly, but banks and other financial institutions faltered.

Other indexes also advanced strongly, although none broke a record.

Stocks advanced strongly in active trading as oil prices turned downward.