Positive Economic Data Lift Stocks

U.S. markets opened under pressure following weak economic data out of Asia and Europe overnight, but rebounded as traders digested positive domestic data. Initial jobless claims remained below the key 300,000 number for the tenth-consecutive week, while existing home sales saw a surprise gain where economists expected a small loss.

Market Radar - % Change

Nymex Crude Oil closed out the December contract on an up-turn settling at $75.58 per barrel up $1.34 or one percent. Gold prices slid slightly losing $3.0 to settle at $1,190.9 down 0.25%

The major indexes all showed green with the Dow Jones Industrial Average hit a new all-time closing high of 17,719 up 33.27 points or 0.19%. The S&P 500 also notched new closing highs, ending the session at 2,052.75 up 4.03 points or 0.2%.

The NASDAQ Composite gained 26.16 points to close at 4,701.87 up 0.56%. The NASDAQ 100 rose 19.43 points or 0.46% to close at 4,242.09.

The small cap Russell 2000 surged 1.13% to close at 1,170.75 up 13.06 points. Meanwhile, the Fox 50 gained one point to close at 1,449.03 up 0.21%.