US stocks head for the first day in more than a week (AP)

NEW YORK - a jump in US exports sends stocks up sharply after a trail of losing a week.

The Dow Jones index is 93 points, or 0.8%, to 12,141 in midday trade Thursday. The S & P 500 index is up to 10 or 0.8 percent, to 1,289. The Nasdaq composite is up to 10 or 0.4%, to 2 684.

US exports reached a record in April, narrowing the trade deficit. Sold more than business computers, telecommunications, foreign equipment and heavy machinery. Imports declined because fewer cars were purchased from Japan after the plants have been damaged by the disaster of the earthquake and tsunamis.

The market rally comes after the longest losing streak for the Dow Jones index in more than a year. Index S & P 500 has fallen for the longest period since February 2009.

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