US STOCKS-Wall St climbs on earnings, data; S&P tops 1,200

                                
   * Intel, JPMorgan post solid results
                                
 * Retail sales top estimates, CPI in line
                                
 * Indexes up: Dow 0.7 pct, S&P 500 0.8 pct, Nasdaq 1.2 pct
                                
 * For up-to-the-minute market news, click [STXNEWS/US]
 (Updates to afternoon trading, changes byline)
                                
 By Ryan Vlastelica
                                
 NEW YORK, April 14 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rose for a fifth
straight day on Wednesday and the S&P 500 topped 1,200 as
stronger-than-expected corporate results and March retail sales
bolstered the outlook for profits.
                                
 Intel Corp <INTC.O> late Tuesday reported earnings and
sales that trounced estimates, while JPMorgan Chase & Co
<JPM.N> also posted a better-than-expected profit. For details
see [ID:nN1382801] and [ID:nN14181674].
                                
 JPMorgan was the top percentage gainer among Dow
components, up 3.8 percent to $47.61, while Intel, also a Dow
component, climbed nearly percent to $23.45.
                                
 "The earnings have made it evident that we're in a
recovery, and that's increased risk appetite," said Thomas
Belesis, chief executive officer at John Thomas Financial in
New York.
                                
 "JPMorgan's results really eased concerns about the banking
sector, and that bodes well for the economy in general."
                                
 Financial and technology sectors led gains on the broad S&P
500, which broke above 1,200 for the first time since September
2008, when Lehman Brothers collapsed. The Nasdaq composite
index advanced more than 1 percent.
                                
 The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was up 73.23
points, or 0.66 percent, at 11,092.65. The Standard & Poor's
500 Index <.SPX> was up 9.32 points, or 0.78 percent, at
1,206.62. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was up 29.58
points, or 1.20 percent, at 2,495.57.
                                
 The 1,200 level was a technical resistance for the S&P and
follows the Dow's finish above 11,000 on Monday. If it holds
above 1,200 it could next find strong resistance at around
1,228, a 61.8 percent Fibonacci retracement of the October 2007
to March 2009 decline, according to Reuters data.
                                
 The Fibonacci number is a widely used technical tool that
can help identify the point at which asset prices will
reverse.
                                
 Also boosting sentiment were March retail sales, which rose
1.6 percent, the Commerce Department reported, beating
expectations for a 1.2 percent increase. The S&P retail index
<.RLX> climbed 1.2 percent. [ID:nN14374789]
                                
 The strong earnings from JPMorgan and Intel follow a
revenue disappointment from Dow component Alcoa <AA.N>, which
kicked off the first-quarter earnings season with results after
Monday's close.
                                
 Also this week, earnings are due from Google <GOOG.O>, flat
at $586.75, Bank of American Corp <BAC.N>, up 3.8 percent to
$19.37, and General Electric <GE.N>, up 2 percent at $19.33. GE
is up more than 4 percent so far this week.
                                
 According to the Federal Reserve's Beige Book, economic
activity strengthened in most U.S. regions in March and early
April except for St. Louis, where plans to close several plants
were announced. [ID:nWALEFE61X]
                                
 A note from analysts at Jefferies Equity Derivatives said
the gap between implied volatility and realized volatility
suggests investors are bracing for a more volatile market. The
Volatility index <.VIX>, down 2.6 percent, is at its lowest
since July 2007.
 (Editing by James Dalgleish)