Stocks, Good News | featured news

New year optimism on the financial markets helps to push the FTSE 100 share index to a fresh 16-month high.

Dow futures were up 30 points. The S&P Case-Shiller home-prices indexes showed U.S. home prices decreased at a slower annual rate in October, but prices were flat compared to September.

U.S. stock futures rose as better-than-expected earnings reports from Research In Motion and Oracle late Thursday reinforced confidence in the ability of companies to increase profits next year.

Investors were relieved to see Abu Dhabi's $10 billion rescue of Dubai, while acquisition plans announced by Exxon Mobil helped lift the energy sector.

Signs that manufacturing in the United States was on a path to recovery sent stocks upward on the first trading day after one of the steepest plunges in months.

Strong earnings from JPMorgan, Intel and others push up the blue-chip index in midday trading. The Dow Jones industrial average finally got back above 10,000 today -- briefly -- as banking and technology sectors did their best to move it above that psychological barrier.

Stocks gained, the dollar slid and commodities rose as the Fed prepared to begin a two-day meeting on interest rates.

The Dow's six-month, 46% surge was one of just six of that magnitude in the last 100 years. Many analysts believe that, as with previous rallies, stocks are in a turbulent period that may lead to another slump.

Investors are holding on to their optimism about the economy, sending stocks to fresh 2009 highs. Market indicators rose about 0.5 percent in midday trading Monday, following a surge in overseas markets and extending a big advance from last week.

Financial stocks led a stock-market rally after the jobs report. AIG surged 20% and American Express led blue chips.