NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street ended its calmest week in a month with a big advance, rising on solid economic readings that countered the bleak sentiment that has blanketed the financial markets. The Dow Jones industrial average rose more than 140 points in a lightly traded session.

Stocks started out flat but jumped following a stronger-than-expected reading on new homes sales for July. That report followed a reading showing orders to factories for big-ticket goods rose sharply in July.

The stock market's gains yesterday after several stable or positive sessions suggested that Federal Reserve policymakers and stock market investors have perhaps struck a truce — maybe only a tenuous one — with the Fed acknowledging it stands ready to try to fend off a calamitous seizing up of the credit markets and investors willing to focus on readings on the health of the economy before making decisions.

"I think we've stabilized a bit since the Fed has lowered the discount rate," said Nicholas Raich, director of equity research at National City Private Client Group in Cleveland, referring to the Fed's decision a week ago to cut the interest it charges to lend directly to banks. "That has calmed the market and eased some fears because we have a Fed that is willing to step in and help out."

According to preliminary calculations, the Dow rose 142.99, or 1.08 percent, to 13,378.87.

Broader stock indicators also advanced sharply. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 16.87, or 1.15 percent, to 1,479.37. The Nasdaq composite index rose 34.99, or 1.38 percent, to 2,576.69.

For the week, the Dow rose 2.29 percent, its biggest point gain since the week ended April 20. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq saw their biggest weekly point gains since the weeks ended March 23.

Bonds rose, with the yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note falling to 4.62 percent from 4.63 percent late Thursday. The dollar was mixed against other major currencies, while gold prices rose.

Oil rose $1.35 to $71.18 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, helping energy stocks and making Exxon Mobil Corp. one of the biggest gainers among the 30 stocks in the Dow industrials. Exxon rose $1.94, or 2.3 percent, to $85.69. Crude prices had fallen this week after it appeared there was no major damage to oil rigs as Hurricane Dean pushed through Mexico.

In economic news, the Commerce Department said new home sales rose 2.8 percent in July, after falling four percent in June. The increase in July lifted sales to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 870,000 units. A second report showed that orders for durable goods — those expected to last at least three years — jumped 5.9 percent in July, the biggest increase in 10 months.

The housing report appeared to ease concerns that the US economy might tip into recession because of a skidding housing market and tightening access to credit.

However, the upbeat reports could still disappoint investors who had been hoping weak readings would goad the Fed into cutting its benchmark fed funds rate. The stock market tumult in recent weeks and jitters in the credit market had boosted expectations among some investors that the central bank would have to intervene with a cut in the fed funds rate at or even before its September 18 meeting.

The central bankers appeared determined to deploy a measured response and not necessarily give in to a Street looking for a return of easy access to cash.

"It's really day-by-day with all this news," said Raich, referring to economic data and concerns about faltering mortgages and upheaval in the credit markets. He said the latest economic readings boost a sense that the Fed isn't likely to cut rates.

"Obviously the market is adjusting to that probably not occurring. There were fears just a few weeks ago that the US housing woes were going to impact the global environment."

In corporate news, retailer Gap late on Thursday posted a 19 percent rise in quarterly earnings and announced plans for a $1.5 billion share repurchase. However, rival Aeropostale's quarterly results came in below Wall Street estimates. Gap rose $1.11, or 6.4 percent, to $18.51, while Aeropostale fell 30 cents to $22.82.