Stocks Surge, Employment Improves, Manufacturing Index Surprises

Positive economic reports sent stocks sharply higher on this final trading session of the holiday shortened week. Good word from the employment front and optimistic anticipation for Friday’s Non-Farm Payroll report lifted shares. Manufacturing sector growth added to the bullish sentiment. Fantastic sales increases from the big 3 domestic automakers was icing on the cake for the bulls. The DJIA closed up +70.44 to 10927, the tech heavy Nasdaq added +4.62 to 2402.58 and the broad based S&P 500 advanced +8.67 to 1178.10.

^KMX^: Climbed 3.82% or 96 cents to $26.08/share after beating analysts estimates and providing a positive outlook for the future.

^BGP^: Shares soared 47.67% or 82 cents to $2.54 as the book seller obtained additional financing and beat estimates.

^JPM^: The CEO said he may raise dividends pending 3 conditions sending shares higher by1.07% or 48 cents to $45.18.

^MSFT^: Shares fell 0.44% or 13 cents to $29.16 on anticipation that the iPad may hurt PC sales.

Oil added $1.37 to $85.13, gold climbed $12.90 to $1127.10 and the VIX index gave back 0.68% to 17.47.

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Market Snapshot

Dow

+70.44 10,927.07

NASDAQ

+4.62 2,402.58

S&P 500

+8.67 1,178.10
Economic
News

Personal Income (Feb): Consensus: 0.1%, Prior: 0.1%

Personal Spending (Feb): Consensus: 0.3%, Prior: 0.4%

PCE Prices – Core (Feb): Consensus: 0.1%, Prior: 0.0%

Case-Shiller 20-city Index (Jan): Consensus: -0.6%, Prior: -3.1%

Consumer Confidence (Mar): Consensus: 50.0, Prior: 46.0

ADP Employment Change (Mar): Consensus: 40K, Prior: -20K

Chicago PMI (Mar): Consensus: 61.0, Prior: 62.6

Factory Orders (Feb): Consensus: 0.5%, Prior: 1.7%

Crude Inventories (03/27): Consensus: NA, Prior: 7.25M

Continuing Claims (03/27): Consensus: 4600K, Prior: 4648K

Initial Claims (03/27): Consensus: 440K, Prior: 442K

Construction Spending (Feb): Consensus: -1.0%, Prior: -0.6%

ISM Index (Mar): Consensus: 57.0, Prior: 56.5

Auto Sales (Mar): Consensus: NA, Prior: 3.7M

Truck Sales (Mar): Consensus: NA, Prior: 4.2M

Nonfarm Payrolls (Mar): Consensus: 190K, Prior: -36K

Unemployment Rate (Mar): Consensus: 9.7%, Prior: 9.7%

Average Workweek (Mar): Consensus: 33.9, Prior: 33.8

Hourly Earnings (Mar): Consensus: 0.2%, Prior: 0.1%