Market Watch 02/11/10

Stock Market Closing Prices – 2/11/10

Dow Jones Industrial Average ( DJIA ) Close – 10144.19 +105.81
Nasdaq Stock Market Close – 2177.41 +29.54
S&P 500 Close – 1078.47 +10.34

Commodities Closing Prices – 2/11/10

Gold Close – 1094.20 -4.30
Oil Close – 74.90 -0.38
Natural Gas – 5.38

Stocks rise after EU officials offer support for Greece; First-time jobless claims fall.

The market's advance was broad-based, but energy and materials stocks logged some of the biggest gains after oil prices rose for a fourth day.

Encouraging news about jobs in the U.S. also supported the stock market. The Labor Department said first-time claims for jobless benefits fell more than expected last week. Economists say a lasting economic recovery can't take hold without big gains in jobs.

Still, the brightening prospects for Greece managed to give stocks a bounce. Expectations had been building that a Thursday summit of European leaders would produce a solution for the problem. EU leaders said they would take steps to guard financial stability in Europe but did not offer details.

Tomorrow’s report,
Retail sales
Business inventories