Fed Spurs Rally; Dow Up 120

Nasdaq, S&P also post huge gains

(AP) - Another crazy day for the markets, but this time they ended way up in positive territory. The Dow rose 430 points to close at 11,239, up nearly 4%. The Nasdaq rose 125 to 2,483 (5.29%) and the S&P 500 jumped 53 to 1,173 (4.74%). The Dow had been up triple digits most of the day until the Fed came out with a statement after 2pm saying that because the economy is weaker than thought, it would leave interest rates unchanged for another two years. More»

Markets recover after last week's bloodbath

(NEWSER) - Stocks posted gains today as some investors bought up bargains in the wake of last week's big losses—but volume was light as most remained cautious ahead of the State of the Union address, a hearing on AIG's bailout, and a Fed interest-rate decision, the Wall Street Journal reports.

• The Dow rose 23.88 points to close at 10,196.86.
• The Nasdaq added 5.51, settling at 2,210.80.
• The S&P 500 gained 5.02, closing at 1,096.78.

Dow closes at highest level since October 2008

(NEWSER) - Stocks rallied today off an upswing in manufacturing activity for December and Fed comments that reaffirmed the central bank's continued commitment to low interest rates, the Wall Street Journal reports.

• The Dow jumped 155.91 points to close at 10,583.96.
• The Nasdaq added 39.27, closing at 2,308.42.
• The S&P 500 gained 17.89, settling at 1,132.99.

Traders not yet convinced by jobs data

(NEWSER) - Stocks gave up modest gains as today's session unfolded, with traders remaining defensive in response to reports the Fed will keep interest rates low for a while longer, the Wall Street Journal reports.

• The Dow added 1.21 points to close at 10,390.11.
• The Nasdaq fell 4.74, settling at 2,189.61.
• The S&P 500 dropped 2.73 to close at 1,103.25.

Data on home resales spur rally

(NEWSER) - Stocks rallied today on news that home resales jumped 10.1% in October and comments from the president of the St. Louis Fed reaffirming the government's extended commitment to support the credit markets, the Wall Street Journal reports.

• The Dow jumped 132.79 points to close at 10,450.95, a new high for 2009.
• The Nasdaq added 29.97, closing at 2,176.01.
• The S&P 500 rose 14.86 to settle at 1,106.24.