Markets higher in US and Europe
04-12-2008
US stocks rallied for a second straight session ater a robust report on online holiday spending and a surprise jump in mortgage applications offset a new batch of poor economic data. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 173 points higher, or 2 percent, at 8,592. The Nasdaq composite climbed 42 points, or 2.9 percent, to 1,492.38. The Standard & Poor's 500 advanced 21 points, or 2.5 percent, to 870, according to preliminary closing figures. In Europe, the UK's FTSE 100 index rose 1.1 percent, Germany's DAX index gained 0.8 percent, and France's CAC 40 added 0.4 percent.