Dow Jones Industrial Average Advances Even As Greek Bailout Talks Stall

U.S. stocks traded higher Thursday even as the International Monetary Fund announced that bailout discussions with Greece had halted. Failure to make progress in the talks puts Athens at risk of default and could lead to a Greek exit from the eurozone. Stocks received a boost in morning trading after new data showed U.S. retail sales surged in May, a sign economic growth is on the rebound following a sluggish winter. Thursday's gains were driven by the utilities and telecommunications sectors.