YAHOO [BRIEFING.COM]: Stocks fought threw sluggish trade in the early going to stage impressive gains and settle at session highs. The move was led by natural resource plays.

In the prior session, stocks rebounded back to the lower end of their recent trading range, but struggled to generate enough momentum to make a gain. Stocks were mired near the neutral line again this morning while participants monitored overseas trade and a modest upturn by the dollar. However, the market's unwillingness to turn lower garnered additional support, which eventually led to a gradual climb.

Commodities were especially strong, suggesting a willingness among participants to return to risk, for now at least. Oil prices spiked more than 3% to close pit trade above $100 per barrel. It was partially helped by a bullish inventory report. Overall, the CRB Commodity Index climbed 2.3%.

Strength among commodities helped materials stocks and energy stocks outperform. Both sectors advanced on the order of 2%.

Dell (DELL 16.75, +0.85) was one of today's top performers. The stock's spike to a 52-week followed a strong earnings report and forecast.

Deere & Co. (DE 86.50, -0.46) also posted a strong quarterly report and forecast, but its shares dropped at the open. The stock eventually improved its position, but still settled with a modest loss.

Shares of Target (TGT 49.96, -0.82) also had to fight through selling interest in the wake of an upside earnings surprise, but Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF 75.69, +2.52) rallied to a new 52-week high following its better-than-expected earnings report.

The risk switch was turned back to the on position today as commodities, for the most part, rallied across the board. June crude oil surged 3.3% to close at $100.12 per barrel. Crude oil's gains were a culmination of a couple of things, including overnight weakness in the dollar, the risk trade being turned back on, as well as wild fires in Canada near the oil-sands that have caused the shut-in of some production as a precautionary measure. Concerns over the possibility of further shut-in for production helped crude oil move higher. June natural gas ended up 0.4% to $4.20 per MMBtu.

Overnight weakness in the dollar helped precious metals move higher initially. Both metals extended their respective rallies heading into the afternoon session, where gold put in highs at $1499.70 and silver at $35.55. Both metals pulled back modestly from those highs before closing. June gold gained 1.1% to finish at $1495.80 per ounce, while July silver rallied for 5.2% to end at $35.20 per ounce.

Advancing Sectors: Materials (+2.1%), Energy (+2.0%), Consumer Discretionary (+1.2%), Industrials (+1.1%), Tech (+0.8%), Health Care (+0.8%), Financials (+0.5%), Telecom (+0.3%), Consumer Staples (+0.2%)
Declining Sectors: Utilities (-0.3%)DJ30 +80.60 NASDAQ +31.79 NQ100 +0.8% R2K +1.6% SP400 +1.5% SP500 +11.70 NASDAQ Adv/Vol/Dec 1914/1.88 bln/667 NYSE Adv/Vol/Dec 2351/882 mln/658