Dow Jones

The Dow's run toward 13,000 may not be the biggest surprise in the stock market this year. The sharp drop in volatility is just as unexpected. After barely budging last week, the Dow Jones industrial average resumed its effort Monday to permanently vault past past 13,000. It pierced that level briefly last week but has yet to close above it. After overcoming an early-morning sell-off, it's a smidge over 13,000 at the moment. The assault on 13,000 has made it easy to overlook the big drop in volatility.

The Dow Jones industrial average is making another run at closing above 13,000, a milestone that has not been reached since the start of the financial crisis four years ago. America's most-watched stock indicator popped above and below the level six times in the first few hours of trading Friday. The blue-chip index was most recently up 26.37 points, or 0.2%, at 13,010.08. The Dow is now up nearly 6.5% so far this year and has gained more than 1,000 points along the way. Broader stock indexes have also been on a blistering pace.

Stock markets rallied on Thursday as positive economic data on jobs and housing outweighed concerns about the European economy. The Dow Jones industrial average finished within sight of 13,000 points to close at its highest point since the 2008 financial crisis. The blue-chip index rose 46.24 points, or 0.4%, to 12,984.91. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 5.8 points, or 0.43%, to 1,363.46. The technology-heavy Nasdaq composite index rose 23.81 points, or 0.8%, to 2,956.98.

The Dow Jones industrial average crested 13,000 points for the first time since before the financial crisis, but failed to maintain the milestone by Tuesday's close. The blue-chip index's latest surge has been driven by a stream of evidence signaling that the U.S. economy is on the mend. The blue-chip index has risen 20% since a low of 10,655.30 on Oct. 3. The Dow first closed above 13,000 in 2007 and reached a peak of 14,164.53 in October of that year. The market was then roiled by the collapse of Lehman Bros.

U.S. stocks rallied amid more evidence of a U.S. economic recovery and hopes of a new Greek bailout, sending the Dow Jones industrial average to one of its best days this year. The Dow rose to within 100 points of the psychologically important mark of 13,000, a level last reached in May 2008. Economic data released Thursday showed that the number of people filing for unemployment claims fell last week, while the number of homes under construction rose. The reports helped paint a more upbeat picture about the economy that put Wall Street in a buying mood.

U.S. stocks rallied amid more evidence of a U.S. economic recovery, sending the closely tracked Dow Jones industrial average to one of its best days this year. Investors put an end to three straight days of losses after new reports showed that the number of people filing for unemployment claims fell last week, while the number of homes under construction rose. The data helped paint a more upbeat picture about the economy that put Wall Street in a buying mood. The Dow surged 116 points, or nearly 1%, to 12897.57, putting the blue chips within striking distance of Dow 13,000.

Wall Street logged its worst week so far this year as investors worried that negotiations over a Greek bailout have unraveled, sending major U.S. stock indexes lower. Investors had mostly shrugged off worries about Europe's efforts to contain its debt crisis, with the Dow Jones industrial average up 4.6% since January. However, the blue-chip index shed nearly half a percentage point this last week after European leaders turned down the latest plan to bail out Greece. That pushed the Dow to its worst one-day drop in 2012 as it fell 89.23 points, or 0.7%, to 12,801.23 on Friday.

An unexpected burst of job growth last month helped drive down the unemployment rate to its lowest point in three years, raising hopes that the long-sluggish labor market is gaining momentum despite significant challenges to the economy. The government reported that the nation's unemployment rate fell to 8.3% in January, the fifth consecutive monthly decline, and that employers added 243,000 net new jobs last month — about 100,000 more than what analysts had forecast and the most in nine months.

A brief morning rally pushed the Dow Jones industrial average above its highest closing price since the financial crisis Thursday, but stocks closed lower after mixed economic data tempered traders' optimism. Solid news on factory orders and strong earnings from U.S. manufacturers highlighted one of the economy's bright spots before the market opened. The Dow and broader indexes turned negative after weaker reports on home sales and future economic growth were released in the late morning.