Stocks Climb to Four-Month High
Author: Kristina Peterson</br></br>U.S. stocks closed at their highest level in more than four months a day ahead of a Federal Reserve meeting, as encouraging financial and home builder earnings boosted confidence in the economic recovery.</br></br>Adding to its three straight weeks of gains, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 145.77 points, or 1.4%, to 10753.62, its highest level since May 13. Already this month, the measure has climbed 7.4%, its best September performance so far since 1939.</br></br>The Standard & Poor's 500-share index rose 17.12, or 1.5%, to 1142.70, also its highest close since May 13. The Nasdaq Composite added 40.22, or 1.7%, to 2355.83, buoyed by a wave of deal activity in the fast-consolidating technology industry.</br></br>"We're beginning to get some indications it's more of a muddle-through economy in the U.S., rather than a double dip," said Sean Kraus, chief investment officer at Citizens Trust. "There was so much negative news built into the markets that anything positive is good."