Market Watch 12/10/2009

Stock Market Closing Prices – 12/10/09

Dow Jones Industrial Average ( DJIA ) Close – 10405.83 +68.78
Nasdaq Stock Market Close – 2190.86 +7.13
S&P 500 Close – 1102.35 +6.40

Commodities Closing Prices – 12/10/09

Gold Close – 1133.8
Oil Close – 70.88

The market came away with moderate gains for the day after the Commerce Department said rising exports helped narrow the nation's trade gap to $32.9 billion in October. Economists had been expecting an increase.
A weaker dollar is raising demand for U.S. goods by making them less expensive for overseas buyers. That trend helped to lift U.S. exports by 2.5 percent, the sixth straight monthly increase.

The trade figures helped offset mixed jobs numbers. The Labor Department said the number of laid-off workers seeking jobless benefits rose more than expected last week to 474,000 after falling for five straight weeks.

The gains in stocks came as the dollar stabilized. For months, stocks and the dollar have moved in the opposite direction.