New York ? A stronger-than-expected report on home construction soothed Wall Street on Wednesday and gave investors an incentive to pick up bargains after days of declines. A bullish outlook from General Electric Co. added to the gains.

The Dow Jones industrial average closed up 66.30, or 0.7 percent, at 9,690.46, after a four-day loss of nearly 225 points. The broader market also finished higher.

General Electric Co. rose $1.03 to $29.47 after the company said it would likely increase its quarterly dividend by a penny to 20 cents a share next year, citing in part optimism about an improving economy.

SoundView Technology Group Inc. gained $2.16 to $15.41 after Charles Schwab Corp. said it would acquire the research and investment banking firm in a deal worth about $324 million in cash. Schwab fell 8 cents to $11.34.