A jump in U.S. consumer confidence is sending stocks to a modestly higher close. Investors were also encouraged by new efforts from European leaders to find more aggressive cures for the region's debt crisis. Technology stocks lagged.

Stocks gained momentum after the Conference Board, a private research group, reported that its Consumer Confidence Index jumped in November to its highest level since July.

Europe's finance ministers were considering wide-ranging plans for protecting the region's financial system.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 33 points, or 0.3 percent, to close at 11,556 Tuesday.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 3, or 0.2 percent, to 1,195. The Nasdaq fell 12, or 0.5 percent, to 2,516.

Falling stocks slightly outnumbered rising ones. Volume was below average at 3.9 billion shares.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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