THE NEW YORK REPORT
Stocks rose in light trading volume yestesrday, supported by data that pointed to stabilisation in the labour and housing markets, areas that have fed concerns about a “double dip” recession.
Trading volume was among the lightest of the year one day before the Thanksgiving holiday, with many senior traders absent from trading floors. Even so, the Dow industrials and the S&P 500 edged to fresh 13-month highs.
Natural resource stocks got a lift from the weak dollar, which slumped to a 15-month low against a basket of currencies, partly because the better-than-expected data encouraged investors to look to assets with higher returns.
New claims for jobless benefits fell sharply in the latest week, while sales of new US single-family homes rose in October to their highest level in a year. Investors have been concerned that the sluggish performance of these areas could push the economy back into recession.
The Dow Jones industrial average gained 0.29 per cent, to end at 10,464.40. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 0.45 per cent, to 1,110.63. The Nasdaq Composite Index advanced or 0.32 per cent, to close at 2,176.05. US?Financial markets will be closed today to mark Thanksgiving. Tomorrow trading resumes, but the US stock market will close early at 1 pm (1800 GMT).