The primary indicators in the U.S. finished mixed last session. The Dow Jones
Industrial Average closed about break-even at 12,019.42. The Nasdaq was just
green by .03 percent at 2,626.93 and the S&P 500 closed just red by .02 percent
at 1,244.28. Although the U.S. indices closed mixed on the last trading session
last week, indices pushed into positive territory over the course of the week as
a whole. All three improved by greater than or equal to 7 percent. The Dow Jones
was up 7 percent. The Nasdaq was higher by about 7.6 percent and the S&P 500
finished better for the week by about 7.4 percent. The last week ended on a
positive note via the jobs data. The Labor Department reported that the national
unemployment rate dropped lower to 8.6 percent for November. The unemployment
rate has slowly come off of its peek which posted in October at 10.1 percent.
Investors confidence was bolstered, somewhat, by the data. Although the
unemployment rate lowered, the number of jobs that have been added in recent
months does not match the number necessary to keep up with population growth.
Investors will look to string several months of strong jobs data together to
feel secure that the U.S. economy is moving in a consistent direction. Last
week, the market started off with three strong days and the hope is that this
week will show similar trends. Today, investors will look to the Commerce
Department report on factory orders. Economists expect a minor decline in orders
for this report however. Frank Matto
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