It's at 13,000 and counting! That's right, the Dow Jones
The eurozone optimism helped the broad markets in the United States climb higher despite confirmation that the U.S. economy is sputtering. The Commerce Department released second-quarter figures showing the GDP growth rate plummeted to a dismal 1.5%, down from 2% in the first quarter and 4.1% in the final quarter of 2011. On top of that, consumer sentiment plunged to its lowest level of the year, with high unemployment the biggest cause for worry. Consumers are uncertain of the future, holding off on purchasing big-ticket items while increasing individual savings.
Today's market recap
Index |
Gain/Loss |
Gain/Loss % |
---|---|---|
Dow Jones Industrial Average | 177.06 | 1.37% |
S&P 500 | 23.00 | 1.69% |
Nasdaq | 54.08 | 1.87% |
WTI Oil Futures | 1.02 | 1.12% |
Source: Yahoo! Finance as of 2:30 p.m. EDT.
Dow component Chevron
Arch Coal
Takeaway
Today Europe's political elite decided to back the ECB, declaring that they'll do whatever is necessary to keep the euro together. However, the debt situation still hangs in the balance. Investors need to continually search for excellent investments that will provide strong and secure returns. The Motley Fool has assembled a list of nine rock-solid dividend stocks every investor needs to be familiar with. This report is absolutely free, so be sure to get your copy today!