NEW YORK — Investors felt more confident putting their money into banks on the eve of a government report card on big financial companies.

Bank stocks pulled the market higher yesterday as media reports trickled out that indicated balance sheets at major lenders might not be as frayed as some had feared.

The news on banks and a surprise drop in a report on unemployment provided the latest shots of confidence to a market that has barreled higher in the past two months amid signs that the economy is stabilizing. Market indicators have surged more than 30 percent from the 12-year lows hit on March 9.