Stocks rise as Dow posts first back-to-back gains in October

The Dow, boosted by earnings beats by leading companies in the financial and energy sectors, pushed higher Wednesday as notched its first back-to-back daily gains in October.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 41 points, or 0.2%, to close at 18,203 as it built on Tuesdays gain of nearly 76 points. The broad Standard & Poor's 500 stock index was 0.2% higher to 2144 and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.1% to 5246.

Stocks got a boost from better-than-expected earnings reports from Wall Street bank Morgan Stanley (MS) and oil services company Halliburton (HAL).

Wall Street is closely watching the third-quarter earnings season, as the S&P 500 has posted negative profit growth the prior four quarters and investors are hoping the July-thru-September quarter marks the end of the so-called earnings recession. On Tuesday, the earnings growth rate for the third quarter moved back into positive territory, showing growth of 0.2%, according to earnings-tracker Thomson Reuters.

Morgan Stanley shares were up 1.9% and Halliburton stock was trading 4.3% higher.

Halliburton also got a boost from a bullish day in the energy patch. Oil prices were solidly in the black, with a barrel of U.S.-produced crude rising 2.8% to $51.70 per barrel. The crude gains were fueled by upbeat comments from the top Saudi energy minister, who said in a speech in London that the end of the long downturn in oil prices is growing closer following OPEC's recent decision to make minor cuts to output.

Oil hits 15-month high as inventories fall

Market sentiment also got a boost from economic data out of China, where third-quarter GDP came in at 6.7%, inline with expectations.

Wall Street is also awaiting tonight's final presidential debate between Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump. Most polls show Clinton in the lead, so investors will be watching to see if the final face-to-face battle between the two candidates impacts the polls.

In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose slightly to 1.746%. The U.S. dollar also declined 0.2% vs. a basket of foreign currencies, providing a lift for the outlook of U.S. exporters.

In economic news, September housing starts in the U.S. fell a more than expected 9%.

Housing starts tumble 9% in September

Stocks in Asia closed little changed. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 rose 0.2% but the Hong Kong's Hang Seng index fell 0.4%

In Europe, the broad Stoxx Europe 600 index rose 0.3%.