Posted on September 3rd, 2010 
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| Index/Security | Close | Chg | %Chg |
| Dow Jones (US) | 10,320 | +50.6 | +0.5 |
| S&P 500 | 1,090 | +9.8 | +0.9 |
| NASDAQ | 2,200 | +23.2 | +1.1 |
US stocks rose on Thursday, with consumer companies including Home Depot, Walt Disney and Wal-Mart Stores leading the gains following better-than-expected readings from the housing and retail sectors.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 50.63 points (0.49%) to 10,320.10, marking its third-straight gain. Home Depot jumped 74 cents (2.6%) to $29.41, as the home-improvement retailer was boosted by an unexpected increase in pending-home sales as well as a bigger-than-expected rise in retailers’ same-store sales. Walt Disney and Wal-Mart also benefited from improved sentiment around consumer stocks following the reports, with Disney rising 40 cents (1.2%) to $33.91, and Wal-Mart up 56 cents (1.1%) to $51.76.
Hewlett-Packard was also strong, up 47 cents (1.2%) to $39.68. The technology giant won the battle to buy 3Par after increasing its offer for the maker of data-storage products to $2.1bn, prompting rival Dell to withdraw from the nearly two-week bidding war. Dell, which isn’t a Dow component, added 24 cents (2%) to $12.36. 3Par, which also isn’t a Dow component, climbed 80 cents (2.5%) to $32.88.
International Business Machines kept the Dow’s gains in check with a drop of 73 cents (0.6%) to $125.04. The stock’s decline came as investors fretted over whether H-P’s deal to acquire 3Par might help the technology company better compete with IBM.
The Nasdaq Composite advanced 23.17 (1.06%) to 2,200.01. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index gained 9.81 (0.91%) to 1,090.10.
Retailers led the climb after they delivered a late-summer surprise, with sales for the key back-to-school buying month of August coming in better than expected. Among the sector’s gainers, Nordstrom jumped $2.44 (8.1%) to $32.76, Limited Brands added $1.48 (6.1%) to $25.75, and JC Penney advanced 66 cents (3.2%) to $21.41.
| Precious Metals | Close | Chg | %Chg | Units |
| Gold | 1,251 | +7.5 | +0.6 | USD/Oz |
| Silver | 19.6 | +0.3 | +1.3 | USD/Oz |
Base metals extended their gains on the London Metal Exchange, closing higher after a fresh set of encouraging US economic reports kept investors’ renewed optimism alive. Gold futures gained modestly as the US dollar retreated and investors looked toward US payrolls data on Friday. Crude rose above $75 a barrel on Thursday, rebounding from earlier losses as data on the US economy hinted that the recovery continues despite its slower pace.
Australian Stock Prices Overnight
ResMed rose by US$0.66 to US$31.49, equivalent to A$3.46, A$0.03 above its last close on the ASX.
In London, Rio Tinto fell 18.0 pence to £34.83, A$0.30 lower in Australian currency terms.
BHP-Billiton fell 2.3 pence to £19.01, A$0.04 lower in Australian currency terms.
Henderson Group Plc rose 2.1 pence to £1.32, A$0.04 higher in Australian currency terms.
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