Author: Elena Todorova
123jump.com
Last Update: 10:17 AM EDT July 28 2006

Stocks rallied at opening, following second-quarter GDP data release. The Commerce Department said GDP growth slowed to a 2.5% annual rate from 5.6% in the first quarter, feeding hopes that the Federal Reserve may not continue raising interest rates further. The GDP report said core consumer prices surged 2.9%, while the department''s employment cost index rose a stronger-than-forecast 0.9%.