MINYANVILLE ORIGINAL Bolstered by optimism that a fiscal cliff-avoiding budget deal could be reached in time US stocks climbed up in mid-Thursday trading. Positive housing data helped lift investor sentiment as well.   According to the National Association of Realtors pending home sales surged to 5.2% in October which is its highest level in over five years.   "Given the very high correlation between this indicator and actual existing home sales activity we expect the pace of home sales in November to improve " said Millan Mulraine senior US macro strategist at TD Securities according to TheStreet.   The ...