By Anora Mahmudova and Sara Sjolin, MarketWatch

Priceline Group surges on earnings beat

NEW YORK (MarketWatch)--U.S. stocks picked up steam in afternoon trade Thursday as calmer oil prices and upbeat earnings from companies such as Priceline Group and B.J.'s Restaurants provided support.

Investors shook off earlier worries about the continued impasse between Greece and its creditors over loans.

The S&P 500 (SPX) was up slightly, with five of its main sectors trading higher. Consumer discretionary stocks led the gains, while the energy sector pared most of the earlier losses.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) was off 13 points to 18,016, with more than two thirds of its 30 members trading higher. Boeing Co and Johnson & Johnson led the gains.

The Nasdaq Composite (RIXF) outperformed other benchmarks, adding 0.4% to 4,924.

Kim Forrest, senior investment strategist at Fort Pitt Capital, said the oil price appreciation over the past few weeks was likely unwarranted.

"There were no fundamental reasons for oil to recover from $43 to $53 a barrel, so I would argue that that was due to short-covering trades. So, when investors realize that there is a lot of oil stored, prices got hit again," Forrest said.

"Weak opening on Wall Street is not surprising, as we have been getting a lot of weak data, despite strong unemployment figures. But as interest rates and inflation keep falling, multiples keep rising. The trend lately has been that stocks open weaker and rise towards the end," she said.

Forrest also cautioned that disinflation, which is primarily due to oil plunge, is temporary.

"Just as disinflation is temporary, multiple expansion is temporary and when stocks get too expensive they have a tendency to drop dramatically," she said.

Oil blues: Energy companies and oil-related funds were hit hard in early trade, but as crude-oil prices (CLH5) pared losses, stocks trimmed their losses as well. Among oil-tracking indexes, the iPath Goldman Sachs Crude Oil Total Return Index ETN (OIL) fell 1.1%, and the Velocity Shares 3X Long Crude ETN (UWTI) slumped 2.6%.

Data: Economic data on Thursday was mixed. Weekly jobless claims report was better than expected. Meanwhile, leading U.S. economic indicators edged up in January but the index pointed to some moderation in growth. Philadelphia Fed index disappointed, pointing the economy might have hit a soft patch.

In overseas news, the impasse between Greece and is creditors continued, after Germany rejected Greece's request :(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/germany-rejects-greeces-loan-extension-proposal-reports-2015-02-19-791282)for a six-month loan extension agreement. The full Eurogroup of eurozone finance ministers is scheduled to meet again on Friday.

'Germany's gone too far': Rejection of Greek debt plan draws quick Twitter reaction:(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/germanys-rejection-of-greek-debt-plan-draws-quick-twitter-reaction-2015-02-19)

Earnings

T-Mobile US Inc.(TMUS) said it swung to a profit in the fourth quarter:(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/t-mobile-us-swings-to-profit-as-revenue-surges-2015-02-19-64853617) and reported a better-than-expected increase in revenue. Shares rose sharply.

Hormel Foods Corp.(HRL) beat Wall Street's earnings expectations:(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/hormel-lifts-guidance-as-after-posting-strong-quarter-2015-02-19) and raised its 2015 adjusted earnings guidance. Shares rose 0.9%.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc.(WMT) reported quarterly earnings that missed Wall Street's expectations as it laid out a plan to raise employee pay. Shares fell 1.1%.

Priceline Group Inc.(PCLN) shares popped 7.5% after profit and sales beat expectations.

SolarCity Corp.(SCTY) slumped 7.8% after the solar-energy firm late Wednesday said it swung to a fourth-quarter loss of 4 cents a share, from a profit of 28 cents a share a year ago.

BJ's Restaurants Inc.(BJRI) surged 10% after reporting a sharp rise in profit:(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/bjs-restaurants-gains-on-stronger-than-expected-results-2015-02-18) for the fourth quarter.

For more on notable movers, read our Movers & Shakers column:(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/wal-mart-priceline-t-mobile-earnings-in-focus-2015-02-18).

Other markets: In Asia, Japanese stocks rose to a 15-year intraday high:(http://www.marketwatch.com/storyno-meta-for-guid), while the rest of Asia closed mixed. Chinese markets were closed for the Lunar New Year celebrations.

Gold rallied (GCJ5) after the Federal Open Market Committee minutes dashed hopes of a midyear rate increase.

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