After the economy grew more than forecast and earnings for MasterCard Inc. and Kraft Foods Inc. beat analysts’ estimates, U.S. stocks climbed this morning. That sets the stage for a third straight monthly increase in the Standard & Poor’s 500 index, Bloomberg reported.

Shares of MasterCard, the second-biggest credit-card network, gained $20.05, or 13 percent, to $177.20 after the company announced that its third-quarter profits climbed 63 percent to $314 million, or $2.31 a share. Kraft posted its steepest gain in almost two months after the world’s second-largest food company said Oscar Mayer Deli Creations sandwiches boosted revenues. Kraft shares increased 64 cents to $33.24. JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Bank of America Corp. led financial stocks higher as the Federal Reserve met for a second day to set interest rates.

The S&P 500 added 8.73 points, or 0.6 percent, to reach 1,539.75 earlier this morning. The Dow Jones industrial average increased 41.86 points, or 0.3 percent, to 13,834.33. The Nasdaq composite index advanced 13.48 points, or 0.5 percent, to 2,830.19. About two stocks rose for every one that fell on the New York Stock Exchange. Stocks in Europe and Asia also increased in value.

“The economy seems to have weathered quite nicely the credit issues we experienced in late summer,” said Thomas Sowanick, who helps oversee more than $10 billion as chief investment officer of Clearbrook Financial LLC in Princeton, N.J. “We’re seeing everything stronger than what we would have expected two months ago. Fourth-quarter earnings will reflect the rebound.”