The major indexes posted their first three-day stretch of gains since Sept. 10-14.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 2.51, or 0.03 percent, to 10,004.54, according to preliminary calculations. The Standard & Poor's 500 index was up 2.04, or 0.18 percent, at 1,127.44, and the Nasdaq composite index gained 5.75, or 0.29 percent, to 1,975.74.

Concern over China's decision to raise its benchmark interest rate for the first time in nine years pressured materials and energy stocks. The move also encouraged selling in oil.

A barrel of light crude closed at $50.92, down $1.54, on the New York Mercantile Exchange, the lowest close for oil futures since Oct. 4's price of $49.91 a barrel.

"Certainly, there's still a good amount of risk appetite in the market," said Chris Wolfe, of J.P. Morgan Private Bank. "You're seeing people come back in despite the pressures, and as far as earnings go, so far so good."

Unemployment questions weighed on some investors, as the Labor Department reported a sharp uptick in first-time jobless claims last week. The number of Americans filing for unemployment for the first time rose to 350,000, up 20,000 from last week.

In one of the more notable initial public offerings of the year, DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. — the studio responsible for the "Shrek" franchise — jumped $10.75 from its $28 offering price to close at $38.75 per share.

Companies reporting earnings got a mixed reception, despite generally good numbers, as investors looked more at fourth-quarter forecasts than current results.

ExxonMobil Corp. posted record profits for the third quarter, beating analysts' forecasts by a penny per share, but lost 34 cents to $48.61. Verizon Communications Inc. slipped 2 cents to $39.38 after it too beat estimates by one cent per share.

Aetna Inc. reported a nearly 500 percent increase in third-quarter profits, crediting higher membership and a one-time tax credit. Aetna surged $3.55 to $95.30. Although Viacom Inc. swung to a loss in the third quarter due to a $1.5 billion charge for the spinoff of its Blockbuster video rental chain, the company's operating earnings still surpassed Wall Street expectations by a penny per share. Viacom gained $1.15 to $36.50.