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NEW YORK -- Stocks fluctuated for a second straight day today, eventually closing higher on employment data that allowed investors to believe that the extremely tight job market actually might be easing a bit. Dow up 61.17
Associated Press
The Dow Jones industrial average rose in early trading but fell just as abruptly in response to the July employment figures. A buying spree late in the session allowed blue-chips stocks to close up 61.17 at 10,767.75. The Nasdaq composite index closed up 27.48 at 3,787.36, slipping from a gain of more than 70 points earlier in the session. The technology heavy index also swung wildly yesterday. The Standard & Poor's 500 index was up 10.37 at 1,462.93.
Advancers outnumbered decliners by a 5 to 3 margin on the New York Stock Exchange, with 1,696 up, 1,103 down and 512 unchanged. Volume came to 948.02 million shares, down from yesterday's 1.05 billion.
The NYSE composite index gained 6.08 to 657.79, the American Stock Exchange composite index rose 1.39 to 907.97 and the Russell 2000 index was up 4.18 at 503.63.
The 30-year Treasury bond rose 14/32 to 107 23/32, with its yield falling 3 basis points to 5.71 percent. The two-year note rose to 100 7/32. Its yield fell 8 basis points to 6.13 percent. The five-year note rose to 103 1/32, as its yield fell 6 basis points to 6.01 percent. The current 10-year note rose to 104 10/32, as its yield fell 4 basis points to 5.90 percent.
Banking and financial services stocks were the stars of the day. J.P. Morgan led the way, rising $8.25 to $143.25, and Merrill Lynch shares rose $5.31 to $136.12.