Stocks edge up on signs of manufacturing growth

[bushisanidiot]

Thank you, President Obama and Speaker Pelosi! I don't own much in stocks, but what little I do have has grown significantly since you've been in power.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Stocks-edge-up-on-signs-of-apf-2269532050.html?x=0

"NEW YORK (AP) -- Stocks edged higher early Wednesday on signs that U.S. manufacturing is growing and inflation remains under control.

The Federal Reserve said U.S. factory output rose for the fifth straight month in November. A separate report showed that consumer prices hardly moved. The Labor Department's Consumer Price Index rose just 0.1 percent in November, slightly below what economists expected.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 29 points, or 0.26 percent, to 11,506.02. The broader Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 1.5, or 0.12 percent, to 1,243.09. The Nasdaq composite index rose 9.8, or 0.37 percent, to 2,637.53.

Treasury prices headed higher after a steep fall the day before. The yield on the 10-year note moved down to 3.41 percent from 3.45 percent. The yield on the 10-year note helps set interest rates on mortgages and other kinds of loans. Bond prices and their yields move in opposite directions.

In corporate news, Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis AG said it was getting closer to buying the remaining shares of eye care company Alcon Inc. that it doesn't already own. Shares in Alcon rose 1.7 percent to $165.19. Novartis rose 6.4 percent to $59.41.

The Dow closed at its highest level of the year Tuesday after reports on retail sales, business inventories and sentiment among corporate leaders all suggested that the economy was improving."

[Skidmore]

I own stock as part of a retirement plan we were required to

participate in at my old job and which is vested. I wish I could get rid of that retirement fund and sit on that money myself. I'm good at that. The little inheritance I got from my mother 15 years ago is still intact, sitting in a bank vault. Haven't spent a dime from it. Tuck it away and forget you have it.

[dmallind]

1. on DU, DJIA is only meaningful when it declines. nt

[bushisanidiot]

2. Isn't THAT the truth!

it's only a party if we get to bash the President.

[cbdo2007]

3. Yep, making some great money this year!

[Statistical]

5. and the fundamentals are setting up for a happy new year *

*(if interest rates remain low. 30yr bond goes north of 4% and all bets are off).

[nc4bo]

4. That's so nice for all of you um, winners. Merry Christmas.

But for the rest of us, not so much.

When all that winning translates into jobs for us working class slobs than the rest of us can join you in celebration.

Please save a spot on the bench for us, we'll be along shortly.

[dmallind]

6. about half of the US population is invested in the stock market. Most could and should be. nt