Stocks were up at midday Tuesday, boosted by government reports of gains in home construction and low inflation, AP reported. Expectations that the Federal Reserve will keep in place programs meant to prop up the U.S. economy also drove the market higher. The Dow Jones industrial average was up 110 points, or 0.7 percent, to 15,289 shortly after noon (1600 GMT). The Standard & Poor's 500 index edged up nine points, or 0.6 percent, to 1,648. All 10 industry groups in the index were higher, led by telecommunications. Stocks were also up throughout most of Europe, despite reminders that the economy there is still far from healed. European car sales hit their lowest level for the month of May in 20 years. In Greece, bickering continued over the prime minister's decision last week to shut down state TV in an effort to save money. In other U.S. stock trading, the Nasdaq composite index rose 22 points, or 0.6 percent, to 3,474.