"Big-bank earnings drive stock market surge: Latest market update"

Stocks climbed higher on Friday after big US banks, including Wells Fargo and JPMorgan, reported better-than-expected profits, signaling a strong start to the third-quarter earnings season. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained around 0.6%, while the S&P 500 added almost 0.5%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite lagged behind with a rise of roughly 0.2%. Investors also kept an eye on the developing conflict in the Middle East. Additionally, consumer sentiment in the US dropped in October due to concerns over inflation and the slumping stock market.