Archive for March 19th, 2012

U.S. stocks drifted higher Monday but lost the momentum from their biggest week of the year. A dividend from Apple, a deal for UPS and the promise of greater demand for U.S. Steel drove those stocks to gains.

Stocks eased off their best levels in the final minutes of trading Monday but still managed to eke out a small gain, following a sharp rally from the previous week.

Lukoil chief says Russia is moving to open up the Arctic.

Stocks Notch Another Win The Dow industrials eked out a small gain, helped by a steady reading from home builders, news of Apple’s plan to return cash to shareholders, and tech-sector buying.

U.S. stock indexes wrap up a low-volume session with gains, as Apple Inc.’s dividend plans boosts the Nasdaq and home builders’ data bolster views of that sector’s recovery.

BY THE NUMBERS: The major indexes rose slightly Monday, but their performance was underwhelming compared with last week’s big gains. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 6.51 points.

The major indexes rose slightly Monday, but it was an underwhelming day after the biggest rally of the year last week. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 6.51 points, or 0.05 percent, to 13,239.13.

A look at Nasdaq 10 most-active stocks at 1 p.m.: Apple Inc. rose 2.4 percent to $599.47 with 15,140,500 shares traded.

U.S. stocks Monday closed out a low-volume session with minor gains, supported by housing data and Apple Inc.’s plans for a dividend, but held back as investors bought cautiously after stock indexes gained 8%-18% this year.