U.S. stocks rose Wednesday as oil prices stayed below $50 a barrel ahead of weekly crude inventory figures and U.S. consumer sentiment improved slightly in November. Meanwhile, shares of McDonald's Corp. rose 1 percent, extending Tuesday's gains, as investors bet that the second change in the restaurant chain's top post this year would not threaten its nearly two-year-old turnaround. McDonald's stock was up 35 cents to $30.45. Shares of Biogen Idec Inc. rose 1.6 percent to $58.35 a day after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a multiple sclerosis drug that Ireland's Elan Corp. and Biogen developed. The Dow Jones industrial average was up 10.86 points, or 0.10 percent, at 10,503.46. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index was up 3.05 points, or 0.26 percent, at 1,179.99. The technology-laced Nasdaq Composite Index was up 8.54 points, or 0.41 percent, at 2,092.82. "Investors are relieved that consumer sentiment is still strong although it is not up to expectations and oil under $50 is also helping," said Gary Wedbush, head of trading at Wedbush Morgan. --More 2122 Local Time 1822 GMT
