U.S. stocks traded higher Monday as the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.2% to 10594, the S&P 500 grew 1.3% to 1115 and the Nasdaq Composite increased 1.1% to 2280. Among the companies whose shares are expected to actively trade in Monday's session are NRG Energy Inc.'s (NRG), Allergan Inc. (AGN) and HSBC Holdings PLC (HBC). NRG Energy's ($23.40, +$0.72, +3.17%) second-quarter earnings fell 51%, as the company's year-earlier results were boosted by hedging gains and the sale of a stake in a mining and power business. Adjusted earnings beat estimates, with Credit Suisse pointing to ongoing strength in the retail business, warm weather boosting power sales in the Northeast and cost containment. Allergan's ($64.42, +$3.36, +5.50%) second-quarter earnings rose 36% as the company's sales jumped. Results easily topped the eye- and skin-care products maker's expectations. HSBC Holdings PLC (HBC, $53.65, +$2.57, +5.03%), Europe's largest bank by market capitalization, said Monday that its profit for the first half of the year doubled, as it sharply reduced impairment charges and booked a gain on the value its own debt. Boyd Gaming Corp. (BYD, $8.79, +$0.33, +3.90%) said late Friday that it gave up its year-and-a-half effort to take over certain assets of its chief rival, bankrupt Station Casinos Inc. Chief Executive Keith Smith said the pursuit no longer makes sense for Boyd "given the bidding procedures that favor Station insiders." He also said the potential value of the operating and development assets is limited. Arena Pharmaceuticals (ARNA, $7.68, -$0.27, -3.40%) was cut to neutral from overweight by J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.. While JP Morgan's belief that Arena's obesity drug, Lorcaserin, may have the best shot at approval among the late-stage obesity drug candidates is unchanged, it is no longer comfortable with the near-term risk/reward. Administaff Inc.'s (ASF, $26.94, +$0.88, +3.38%) second-quarter profit dropped a less-than-feared 5% as revenue rose, but higher costs ate into margins at the human-resources contractor. Other Stocks In Focus AllianceBernstein Holding LP's (AB, $26.31, -$0.37, -1.39%) second-quarter earnings fell 16% after prior-year investment gains, as core results rose less than analysts expected. Mining company Arch Coal Inc. (ACI, $24.12, +$0.43, +1.82%) plans to sell $500 million in 10-year notes to repay other debt coming due in 2013. BNP Paribas SA (BNPQY, $36.29, +$2.03, +5.93%), France's largest lender by market capitalization, Monday reported a far better-than-expected second-quarter profit, as strong retail operations and lower provisions more than offset a slide in investment banking, which was buffeted by the turmoil over euro-zone sovereign debt earlier this year. Charles River Laboratories International Inc.'s (CRL, $29.63, -$1.45, -4.67%) second-quarter profit slumped 58% on lower sales volume and higher costs as demand for outsourced preclinical services remained soft. Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. (CLF, $59.43, +$2.86, +5.06%) said it completed its acquisition of INR Energy LLC's coal operations in southern West Virginia, adding about 68 million tons of metallurgical coal reserves and 51 million tons of thermal coal reserves to the the mining company's current reserve base Continental Airlines Inc. (CAL, $25.54, +$0.52, +2.08%) said Monday it plans to offer $750 million in five-year notes, with the carrier planning to use proceeds to repay a $350 million secured term-loan facility and for general purposes. Corinthian Colleges Inc. (COCO, $9.48, +$0.38, +4.18%) plans to buy back up to $200 million of common stock, which BMO Capital estimates could add up to 49 cents to fiscal 2011 per-share earnings at the for-profit educator. (MORE TO FOLLOW) Dow Jones Newswires August 02, 2010 10:22 ET (14:22 GMT)