Midday Leaders & Laggards: S&P 500

The S&P 500 rose 15.97 points, or 1.2 percent, to 1,393.17.

On Thursday, Nucor boosted its earnings outlook saying it expects more shipments and higher margins. The stock climbed $5.69, or 7.7 percent to $79.83.

Advanced Micro Devices Inc. rose 50 cents, or 7 percent, to $7.69 after the company introduced a new package of laptop chips.

Shares of Brown-Forman Corp. jumped $5, or 6.9 percent, to $77.08. The wine and spirits maker said its fiscal fourth-quarter profit rose 42 percent, beating Wall Street estimates.

Among the decliners, Ciena Corp. declined $1.46, or 4.8 percent, to $29. On Thursday, the communications equipment maker said its second-quarter profit rose 83 percent, helped by higher revenue for its products and services.

Shares of Hercules Inc. lost 91 cents, or 4.4 percent, to $19.80 after the maker of paint thickeners and paper chemicals said higher raw materials costs are prompting it to raise prices up to 30 percent on all its products. A Jefferies analyst downgraded the company to "Hold."

Parker Hannifin Corp. gave up $3.20, or 3.9 percent, to $78.74. A UBS analyst downgraded the maker of fluid power systems and other industrial components to "Sell" from "Neutral" in a client note.