Stocks Surge on Bernanke Comments

The Dow Jones Industrial Average stormed up 160.90 points to 13,241.63 Monday after Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke indicated the central bank might continue easing its monetary policy to support the economy if the nation’s high unemployment rate remains unchanged.

The Nasdaq rose 54.65 points to 3,122.57 and the S&P 500 gained 19.40 points to finish at 1,416.51.

The National Association of Realtors reported pending home sales fell 0.5% to 96.5 in February, a sharp disparity from the expected 1% increase most economists had predicted. 

Here are some more details from Monday’s trading session:

Dow Jones Industrial Average:

  • Up two consecutive trading days.
  • Up 195.49 points, or 1.50%, over the two-day period.
  • Largest two-day points and percentage gain since March 14, 2012.
  • Up ten of the past fourteen trading days.
  • Largest one-day points and percentage gain since March 13, 2012.
  • Highest closing value since March 15, 2012.
  • An intraday high of 13243.86 occurred at 15:59:26 today, representing an increase of 163.13, or 1.25%.
  • An intraday low of 13082.39 occurred at 09:30:02 today.
  • Twenty-nine of the 30 component stocks rose, one fell.
  • Today's top five contributors to The Dow's movement and their point contribution: IBM (17.33), UTX (12.87), XOM (11.20), CVX (11.20), MCD (10.75).
  • Traded in positive territory for 100 percent of the day.
  • Today's bottom five laggards: VZ (-0.68), PG (0.23), BAC (0.61), AA (0.83), GE (2.04).
  • Down 6.52% from its record close of 14164.53 on October 09, 2007.
  • Up 8.56% from 52 weeks ago.
  • Up 7.13% from its 2012 closing low of 12359.92 on January 06, 2012.
  • Down 0.08% from its 52-week high of 13252.76 on March 15, 2012.
  • Up 24.27% from its 52-week low of 10655.30 on October 03, 2011.
  • Month-to-date: up 2.24%.
  • Year-to-date: up 8.38%.

Dow Jones U.S. Total Stock Market Index:

  • Dow Jones U.S. Total Stock Market Index, 14731.65*, up 206.71 points, or 1.42%, or approximately $243 billion in market capitalization.
  • Up two consecutive trading days.
  • Up 263.76 points, or 1.82%, over the two-day period.
  • Largest two-day points and percentage gain since December 21, 2011.
  • A new 52 week high.
  • Largest one-day points and percentage gain since March 13, 2012.
  • Highest closing value since December 31, 2007.
  • Down 6.44% (approximately $2.1 trillion in market cap), from its record close of 15745.39 October 09, 2007.
  • Up 113.60% (approximately $9.1 trillion in market cap), from the 12-½ year closing low of 6800.08 on March 9, 2009.
  • Up 7.44% from 52 weeks ago.
  • Up 11.55% from its 2012 closing low of 13206.64 on January 04, 2012.
  • Up 30.38% from its 52-week low of 11299.07 on October 03, 2011.
  • Month-to-date: up 3.66%, or approximately $654 billion in market cap.
  • Year-to-date: up 13.15%, or approximately $2.0 trillion in market cap.

Data courtesy of Dow Jones Indexes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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