Dow Rallies on Housing; Up 214

GDP grows 5.9% in last quarter of 2009

(NEWSER) - Stocks closed out February by nudging into positive territory as investors weighed the news that GDP grew by 5.9% last quarter but existing-home sales plunged, the Wall Street Journal reports.

• The Dow gained 4.23 points to close at 10,325.26.
• The Nasdaq added 4.04, settling at 2,238.26.
• The S&P 500 rose 1.56 to settle at 1,104.49.

Mining giants Bucyrus, Terex to merge

(NEWSER) - Stocks saw broad gains today as analysts upgraded blue chips Alcoa and Intel and big mergers were announced in the mining and health-care sectors, the Wall Street Journal reports.

• The Dow rose 85.25 points to close at 10,414.14.
• The Nasdaq added 25.97, ending the session at 2,237.66.
• The S&P 500 gained 11.58 to settle at 1,114.05.

Retail sales beat expectations in November

(NEWSER) - Stocks ended today's session mixed, with the Dow posting solid gains. Alcoa saw a. 8% jump on an optimistic profit estimate by JPMorgan, and the University of Michigan/Reuters December consumer sentiment index beat expectations, the Wall Street Journal reports.

• The Dow rose 65.67 points to close at 10,471.50.
• The Nasdaq fell 0.55, settling at 2,190.51.
• The S&P 500 gained 4.06, closing at 1,106.41.

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.

Weekly unemployment claims fall to lowest level since January

(NEWSER) - Stocks closed below their session highs but still finished in positive territory after Alcoa set a strong tone for the third-quarter earnings season. The firm posted a $77 million profit after the bell yesterday. Also helping was good news on the jobs front, with last week’s initial claims for jobless benefits down 33,000 to 521,000. The Dow gained 61 points to close at 9,787. The Nasdaq added 14 points to close at 2,124, and the S&P 500 gained 8 points, closing at 1,065, the Wall Street Journal reports. More»