The 110-year-old Dow average exceeded its all-time high, in the fourth quarter rally, stock market helped Dow Jones industrial average towards 12000. Inflation remains under control and it looks like earnings for the most part are pretty good. International Business Machines Corp., the biggest computer-services company, rallied as earnings beat analysts' estimates. Whereas, Johnson & Johnson also rose after Prudential Equity Group LLC said the outlook for its drug unit improved. The gains sent the Dow average above the milestone as trading started.
Intel Corp., the world's largest chipmaker, cut its 2006 budget for plants and equipment. Declines in chip-equipment shares hurt the NASDAQ Composite Index
Adding to that ASML Holding NV, Europe's largest maker of semiconductor gear, forecasted slower orders.
The Federal Reserve will be keeping interest rates unchanged at its next meeting on Oct. 24-25. Economistâs forecast that there will be no change in borrowing costs. The central bank left the benchmark overnight lending rate unchanged at 5.25 percent in the past two meetings after 17 straight increases.
Intel Corp., the world's largest chipmaker, cut its 2006 budget for plants and equipment. Declines in chip-equipment shares hurt the NASDAQ Composite Index
Adding to that ASML Holding NV, Europe's largest maker of semiconductor gear, forecasted slower orders.
The Federal Reserve will be keeping interest rates unchanged at its next meeting on Oct. 24-25. Economistâs forecast that there will be no change in borrowing costs. The central bank left the benchmark overnight lending rate unchanged at 5.25 percent in the past two meetings after 17 straight increases.