The Dow Jones industrial average, in a feel-good milestone, closed above the 10,000 mark for the first time in more than a year on Wednesday. Good earnings reports from J.P. Morgan Chase and Intel helped to send the key index of 30 major companies up 144.80 points to close at 10,015.86.
``Happy, I'm happy,'' said Sheldon T. Anderson, Miami-based chief executive officer for the southeast region of Northern Trust, which caters to wealthy individuals and institutions. ``Ten thousand is a big deal -- for psychological reasons, if for no other.''
Still, nagging doubts about the economy -- especially high unemployment -- muted some of the celebration.
The Dow Jones industrial average has rebounded 53 percent since hitting a 12-year low of 6,547 on March 9. Back then, investor sentiment was at a nadir with investors jittery about whether the unprecedented economic and financial turmoil might tip the country into a full-blown depression.
The S&P 500 Index, which measures a broader base of major stocks, has also steadily risen from its March lows, when the bears were calling the shots on Wall Street. The S&P chalked up a sixth consecutive day of gains Wednesday to close at 1092.02, up 1.75 percent.
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