Dow Jones Industrial Average, Crude Take Flight

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) traded higher from start to finish, as JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) extended its earnings-induced gains, and Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) showed off earnings strength of its own. The blue-chip index now awaits results from two other financial heavyweights -- as well as UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:UNH) -- tomorrow. Elsewhere, the Nasdaq Composite (COMP) took back the closely watched 5,000 mark and extended its impressive year-to-date lead. The biggest winner of all, though, was crude, which continued to blaze a path higher, reaching its highest levels of 2015.

Continue reading for more on today's market, including:

• Why Morgan Stanley foresees all-time highs for Mobileye NV (NYSE:MBLY), and how one speculator bet over $500,000 on Nike Inc (NYSE:NKE) breaking its own personal best.
• Analysts didn't care for Alibaba Group Holding Ltd's (NYSE:BABA) $2.5 billion deal, but they were wooed by the M&A buzz surrounding this cellphone maker.
• Even though Yelp Inc (NYSE:YELP) got a huge boost from Google Inc's (NASDAQ:GOOGL) setback, it still wasn't the best-performing online review stock on the day.
• Plus ... Draghi gets glittered, the Fed's Beige Book, and the mining stock on the rise.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA - 18,112.61) held solid gains throughout the day. At the close, the blue-chip index was up 75.9 points, or 0.4%. Twenty-one of the index's 30 components finished in the black, with INTC's 4.3% after-earnings advance taking the top spot. On the flip side, UNH paced the losers with a 2.2% drop.

The S&P 500 Index (SPX - 2,106.69) stormed higher as well, adding 10.8 points, or 0.5%, to take back the 2,100 level. The Nasdaq Composite (COMP - 5,011.02) overtook 5,000 for a gain of 33.7 points, or 0.7%.

The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX - 12.84) dropped 0.8 point, or 6.1%, falling back below 13 and marking its second-lowest close of 2015.

5 Items on Our Radar Today:

1. At a news conference this morning, a protestor rushed at European Central Bank (ECB) President Mario Draghi, leaping onto a desk and tossing confetti in the air. The protestor shouted "End the ECB dictatorship" before being carried away by security. (Reuters)
2. Economic growth was primarily "modest" from mid-February through the end of March, according to the latest Beige Book from the Federal Reserve, as a stronger dollar, oil prices, and severe winter weather weighed on manufacturing demand. (CNBC)
3. Freeport-McMoRan Inc's (NYSE:FCX) flew up the charts today -- but bears weren't impressed in the least.
4. The construction firm that took a rally respite.
5. Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc. (NASDAQ:ULTA) was looking good today, trading at record highs.

For a look at today's options movers and commodities activity, head to page 2.

Commodities:

Crude futures skyrocketed to a fresh year-to-date high, after domestic supplies rose by less than forecast. By the close, May-dated oil was up $3.10, or 5.8%, at $56.39 per barrel.

After an early trek into the red, gold reversed course as the dollar cooled off. June-dated gold finished with a gain of $8.70, or 0.7%, at $1,201.30 an ounce, rebounding from a month-to-date low.