With no economic reports on Wednesday and bond markets closed for the Veteran’s Day, Wall Street was witness to a quiet trading session, but stocks managed to inch higher on expectations interest rates would remain at a record low for some time.  Also, strong Chinese manufacturing and retail sales data lifted investor sentiments.  Gold prices touched an all-time high.  

The Dow Jones industrial average, which hit an intraday high of 10,341, advanced 44 points, or 0.4%, to close at 10,291.26. The S&P 500 added 6 points, or 0.5%, to close at 1,098.51, and the tech-laden Nasdaq composite rose 16 points, or 0.7%, to end the day at 2,166.90.  On the New York Stock Exchange, 19 stocks were higher in price for every 11 that declined

Nine of the ten S&P500 industry groups ended in the green, with financials (+1.3%), basic materials (+1.0%) and technology (+0.7%) leading the gainers.  Utilities

US stocks ended Monday with losses on fresh concerns that the current market levels are overblown.  A rebound in dollar against key foreign currencies sent commodities lower and financials fell as reports emerged the federal government may require Bank of America to raise more capital.  The group took another beating as influential analyst Richard Bove trimmed his ratings on a number of regional banks.  Homebuilders also led the market lower on reports the first time homebuilders' tax credit is unlikely to be extended.

The Dow Jones industrial average oscillated within a 200-point range and briefly touched the 10,000 mark, before some profit taking saw the index squandering the earlier advance and ending the day 104-points lower.  Technology shares, only sector to have recorded gains last week, fell out of favor and slid along with the broader market.  The technology-laden Nasdaq retreated 12.62 points, or 0.6%, to 2,141.63.  The CBOE

U.S. stocks edged up slightly higher, after swinging back and forth in a narrow range, as investors preferred to remain on the sidelines.  After yesterday’s better-than-expected reports on housing and consumer confidence, investors looked for fresh signs to help restart a rally that has catapulted major indexes to multi-month highs. 

Yesterday, fifteen of the thirty DJIA components closed higher; 245 of the S&P500 closed up and 42 of the NASDAQ100 finished on higher ground.  Trading was subdued with NYSE volume of 1.05 billion well below last year's average of 1.49 billion.  The DJIA gained 4 points to close virtually flat at 9543; the NASDAQ and S&P500 each recorded gains of 0.01%.  Declining issues beat those that advanced eight to seven.  Treasuries were mixed after the government successfully auctioned $39 billion in five-year notes.  The Treasury is scheduled to auction $28 billion of 7-year notes today.

Five of the S&P500

Asian markets witnessed sharp losses Thursday after a decline in American retail sales dampened hopes of an economic recovery.  Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average slumped 2.6% to 9,093.73 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index declined 3%.  South Korea's Kospi Index slid 2.4%.  Oil prices fell below $57 a barrel as disappointing retail sales numbers deflated hopes that consumer spending is starting to stabilize.  A study by Paris-based International Energy Agency said global oil consumption is expected to decline 3% in 2009.

The Commerce Department reported yesterday that U.S. retail sales declined 0.4% in April.  Economists had expected the number to remain unchanged.  Purchases at U.S. stores had tumbled 1.3% in March.

On Wednesday, U.S. stocks declined with the New York Stock Exchange witnessing the broadest sell-off in three weeks.  The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 184.22 points, or 2.2%, to 8,284.89. The S&P 500 Index declined for