Dow Takes Flight as Insurance Stocks Surge

Investors relieved by the relatively minimal impact of Hurricane-turned-Tropical Storm Irene pushed stocks higher Monday as the Dow Jones Industrial average stormed up 254.71 points to close at 11,539.25.

The rally was led by major insurance firms who are now projecting total damages paid in the range of $2 billion to $3 billion following Irene – far less than the $6 billion-plus they paid out in the aftermath of Hurricane Isabel in 2003.

Here are the tidbits and anecdotes from another strong trading session:

Dow Jones Industrial average:

·         Up 254.71 points, or 2.26%, to 11539.25

·         Up two consecutive trading days and five of the last six sessions.

·         Fourth largest points and percent gain this year.

·         Highest close since August 3, 2011.

·         An intraday high of 11541.78 occurred at 15:59:09 today, representing an increase of 257.24 points, or 2.28%.

·         An intraday low of 11286.58 occurred at 09:30:00 today.

·         Today's top contributors to The Dow's movement and their points contribution: IBM (26.34), CAT (22.63), TRV (18.54), UTX (17.48), MMM (15.82).

·         Today's laggard: HD (-0.08).

·         Down 2625.28 points, or 18.53% from its record close of 14164.53 on October 9, 2007.

·         Up 15.28% from 52 weeks ago.

·         Up 76.25% from its 12-year closing low of 6547.05 on March 9, 2009.

·         Down 9.92% from its 2011 closing high of 12810.54 on April 29.

·         Up 7.64% from its 2011 closing low of 10719.94 on August 10.

·         Month-to-date: down 4.97%.

·         Year-to-date: down 0.33% (off 38.26 points from breaking even on the year).

Dow Jones U.S. Total Stock Market Index:

·         Dow Jones U.S. Total Stock Market Index, 12588.80 (prelim)*, up 377.47 points, or 3.09%, or approximately 450 billion in market capitalization.

·         Up two consecutive trading days and four of the last five.

·         Highest close since August 3, 2011.

·         Down 3156.59 points, or 20.05% (approximately $4.4 trillion in market cap), from its record close of 15745.39 on October 9, 2007.

·         Up 85.13% (approximately $6.8 trillion in market cap), from the 12-½ year closing low of 6800.08 on March 9, 2009.

·         Up 16.45% over the past 52 weeks.

·         Down 12.02% from its 2011 closing high of 14308.37on April 29.

·         Up 8.71% from its 2011 closing low of 11580.34 on August 8.

·         Month-to-date: down 6.87%.

·         Year-to-date: down 4.13%, or approximately $648 billion.

Data courtesy of Dow Jones Indexes.

 

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