NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- The Dow Jones Industrial Average hit 12,000 on Wednesday for the first time since June 2008 as December new-home sales topped expectations. The Dow retreated shortly after hitting the psychologically significant level and was last up by 16 points, or 0.1% at 11,993. The S&P 500 was higher by 4 points, or 0.3%, at 1295 and the Nasdaq was ahead by 11 points, or 0.4%, at 2730. ... Click to view a price quote on ^DJI.