U.S. stocks rose

U.S. stocks rose, sending the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index higher for a second day, amid better-than-estimated data on housing and durable-goods orders.

Equities rallied amid signs the real estate industry is firming three years after the start of the economic recovery. Orders for durable goods climbed more than forecast in May, easing concern that U.S. manufacturing is faltering.

Stocks rose in Europe and Asia for the first time in five days amid speculation China will add to economic stimulus and Italian bonds gained after a debt sale ahead of a June 28-29 European Union summit. German Chancellor Angela Merkel shut the door to joint euro-area bonds as a means of lowering Spain’s borrowing costs, saying they are the “wrong way” to achieve the greater European integration needed to stem the debt crisis.

Monsanto added 2.5 percent to $79.83. Sales of corn seed and genetic licenses rose 35 percent as U.S. farmers planted the biggest crop in 75 years. Soybean sales gained 15 percent, driven by demand for the newest seed engineered to tolerate Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Hugh Grant also is expanding in Latin America and Eastern Europe.

Bristol-Myers gained 1.8 percent to $35.13 after it authorized $3 billion in additional repurchases to be made over the “next couple years.” The new phase of the buyback program, announced in a statement today by the New York-based drugmaker, gives the company the ability to repurchase $3.34 billion of an estimated $58.3 billion in stock.

Facebook slid 1.2 percent to $32.72. The firms starting coverage on the company include its lead underwriter, Morgan Stanley.

O’Reilly Automotive Inc. tumbled 15 percent to $82.28. The retailer of auto parts, tools and accessories sank the most in more than a decade after saying sales growth was slower than expected and second-quarter profit will be on the lower end of the company’s forecast range.