| Dow : 8776.39 up 108.00 | S & P : 903.25 up 12.61 |
|
| NASDAQ: 1577.03 up 26.33 | Bond (10Y): 2.24%, 113.19 |
MARKETS:
Wall Street: Bring on '09
Investors close the books on Wall Street's worst year since the 1930s.
Treasurys ease on last day of a very good year
Treasurys lower amid very thin trading, after the government said initial
claims for jobless benefits fell last week.
ECONOMIC REPORT: INITIAL JOBLESS CLAIMS FALL; CONTINUING CLAIMS AT 26-YEAR HIGH
First-time applications for state unemployment benefits fall 94,000 to
stand at 492,000 in the week ended Dec. 27, as the Labor Department
cites seasonal
volatility in explaining the surprising drop.
ANALYST EXPECTS CHEAPER IPHONE, MACBOOK MODELS IN 2009
Apple may be gearing up to introduce cheaper iPhone and MacBook models in 2009,
possibly including a device dubbed the iPhone nano, an analyst says.
MADOFF'S ALLEGED FRAUD CLAIMS SOME FAMOUS VICTIMS: REPORTS
Among those who have lost money in the alleged Ponzi scheme run by
Bernard Madoff are some high-profile names, such as economist Henry
Kaufman and actor Kevin Bacon, according to media reports.
Wall Street ends one of its most dismal years ever with a gain; Dow up
105 points at the close, Nasdaq gains 1.6%, S&P rises 1.5%.
Oil settles up $5.57 to $44.60 a barrel, a 14% gain, on Russia-Ukraine
gas dispute.
1
VIX stock-market volatility gauge at lowest level since October
12:49:50 PM EDT
Canadian stocks edge higher during the last trading session of 2008, a
bruising year during which the credit crunch and tumult in the
commodities markets have delivered a one-two punch for Toronto
investors.
Treasurys lower amid very thin trading, after the government said
initial claims for jobless benefits fell last week.
ECONOMIC REPORT: INITIAL JOBLESS CLAIMS FALL; CONTINUING CLAIMS AT 26-YEAR HIGH
First-time applications for state unemployment benefits fall 94,000 to
stand at 492,000 in the week ended Dec. 27, as the Labor Department
cites seasonal volatility in explaining the surprising drop.
EUROPE MARKETS: LONDON ENDS HIGHER TO CAP OFF A DISMAL YEAR; FLAT ACTION IN
PARIS
European shares move broadly higher at the end of a dismal year for
global markets, with London scoring gains and Paris ending all but
flat.
MADOFF'S ALLEGED FRAUD CLAIMS SOME FAMOUS VICTIMS: REPORTS
Among those who have lost money in the alleged Ponzi scheme run by
Bernard Madoff are some high-profile names, such as economist Henry
Kaufman and actor Kevin Bacon, according to media reports. Key
disclosures about investors losses are due later Wednesday.
CAPITOL REPORT: OBAMA'S 'GOING GREEN' POLICIES HOLD PROMISES -- AND PITFALLS
They're calling it the "transition to green," a motto fashioned by
environmental groups' pining for the first 100 days of Barack Obama's
presidency. It envisions, among other things, increased funding for
alternative-energy development. Federal outlays for new jobs in this
sector would also constitute a "massive" transition to an economy that
looks favorablyon emissions-free energy sources and rewards ways to
save energy, and potentially create many jobs along the way. But such
ambitious policy proposales carry pitfalls as well as promises.
