American Express led gainers in the index with a rise of 2.45% followed by gains in Citigroup of 2.35%, in IBM of 2.3%, in Disney of 1.8%, and in AIG of 1.6%.

Of the stocks in S&P 500 index, 236 stocks increased, 258 declined, and 6 were unchanged. Of the stocks in the index, 13 stocks fell more than 3% and 27 gained more than 3%.

International Game Technology led decliners in the S&P 500 index with a loss of 5.3% followed by Ryder Systems of 4.4%, in Danaher of 4.3%, in LSI Corp of 3.6%, in Gilead Sciences of 3.5%.

MGIC Investment Corp led the gainers in the S&P 500 index with a rise of 19% followed by gains in Leggett Platt of 14%, in Altera of 10%, in MBIA of 8.9%, in Ambac of 8.8%, in E*Trade Financial of 7.5%.

South American Markets Indexes

Brazil led the gainers in South American trading with a rise of 0.62% followed by increases in Colombia of 0.26%, in Chile of 0.23%, and in Argentina of 0.13%. Peru fell 0.51% and Mexico declined 0.23%.

Asian Markets

In Tokyo Nikkei 225 Index closed higher 252.17 or 1.92% to 13,398.30, in Hong Kong Hang Seng index increased 380.61 or 1.59% closed to 24,258.96. In Australia ASX 200 index higher 48.70 or 0.89% to close 5,519.00. In Malaysia KL Composite index increased 2.90 or 0.23% closed to 1,256.54.

In South Korea Kospi Index increased 10.11 or 0.57% to close at 1,768.67, in Thailand SET index closed higher 12.05 or 1.45% to 845.43 and Indonesia JSE Index edged increased 3.86 or 0.16% to 2,341.78. Sensex index in India increased 237.01 or 1.46% to 16,481.20.

Commodities, Metals, and Currencies

Crude oil increased $1.12 to close at $114.91 a barrel for a front month contract, natural gas increased 20 cent to $10.40 per mBtu, and gasoline futures increased 4.99 cents to close at 293.09 cents per gallon.

Gold increased $16.30 in New York trading to close at $948.00 per ounce, silver closed up $0.06 cents to $17.85 per ounce, and copper for front month delivery increased 9.50 cents to $3.955 per pound.

Wheat futures increased 28.5 cents in Chicago trading and closed at $9.39 per bushel. Sugar increased 3.00 cent to $13.34 per pound. Soybean future closed down 36.00 cents to $13.61 a bushel.

Dollar edged lower and traded at a record low against euro to $1.5952 and edged lower against yen to 101.75.

Yields on U.S. bonds increased to 3.68% with 10 years of maturities and increased 4.49% with 30-year of maturities.