OIL, EARNINGS LIFT WALL STREET BUT INTEL DRAGS
U.S. stocks notched a second straight day of gains on Wednesday, as climbing oil prices lifted the energy sector and earnings from Morgan Stanley provided a boost to financials. Brent crude settled up 1.9 percent and U.S. crude settled up 2.6 percent after touching a 15-month high following a government report that showed a sharp drop in domestic inventories for the sixth week in seven. The energy sector .SPNY rose 1.4 percent, its biggest gain in seven sessions. A 4.2-percent rise in Halliburton (HAL.N) also provided a boost after the world's No.2 oilfield services provider posted third-quarter results.