Nasdaq up on rate-cut speculation as Dow dips

By Caroline Valetkevitch

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The S&P 500 and Nasdaq rose on Tuesday as a signal that the Federal Reserve might cut its benchmark interest rate soon muted persistent concerns about withering credit markets.

The Fed would use "all available tools" to calm financial markets, its chairman, Ben Bernanke, told Sen. Christopher Dodd, chairman of the Banking Committee, during a meeting. His pledge fueled speculation of an early cut in the fed funds rate, the central bank's main policy tool.

But the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Jeffrey Lacker, poured cold water on the optimism, saying a rate change due to market turmoil would only be warranted if it hurts the inflation or growth outlook.

"Their goal (with the Dodd meeting) was to give the market a positive psychological boost to calm it, and I think they've succeeded on that front," said Angel Mata, managing director of listed equity trading at Stifel Nicolaus Capital Markets in Baltimore. "The issue is what about tomorrow."

Slumping energy stocks pushed the Dow industrials into negative territory as Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM.N) fell after Hurricane Dean faltered before reaching key oil facilities. Oil futures slipped below $70 a barrel for the first time since July 2.

Technology shares outperformed the rest of the market, led

by iPod maker Apple Inc (AAPL.O). Its shares gained 4.4 percent to $127.57 on the Nasdaq after analysts at UBS AG said iPhone sales could top the brokerage's estimates and demand for Apple's desktop and notebook computers was strong.

The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI fell 30.49 points, or 0.23 percent, to end at 13,090.86. But the Standard & Poor's 500 Index .SPX inched up 1.57 points, or 0.11 percent, to 1,447.12. The Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC gained 12.71 points, or 0.51 percent, to 2,521.30.

After the closing bell, shares of Medtronic Inc (MDT.N) fell 2 percent to $51.82 in extended trade as the medical device maker posted slightly weaker-than-expected revenues.

FINANCIAL AND AIRLINE STOCKS FLY

During the regular session, shares of Countrywide Financial Corp CFC.N jumped 10 percent to $21.79. The Wall Street Journal said Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc (BRKa.N)(BRKb.N) might buy part of the company. Countrywide, the largest U.S. mortgage lender, had taken a beating in recent sessions as financing for mortgage lenders dried up.

Speculation about a rate cut boosted other financial shares, with Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS.N) up 1.6 percent at $175.48 on the New York Stock Exchange.

Wachovia Corp WB.N, which raised its dividend 14 percent, rose 0.5 percent to $49.24.

Last Friday, the Fed cut the discount rate in a surprise move, causing stocks to rally. Now Wall Street hopes the Fed will cut the target for the federal funds rate, which banks charge each other on overnight loans.

Fallout from problems in the risky U.S. subprime mortgage sector have led to sharp declines in world stocks over the past month.