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US STOCKS-Wall St edges up on brighter corporate tone

Tue Nov 10, 2009 10:48am EST

Stocks

   

Stocks  |  Financials

* AIG up 4.2 pct after Moody's comments

* Indexes: Dow, S&P up 0.1 pct, Nasdaq flat

* For up-to-the-minute market news, click [STXNEWS/US]

(Updates to early morning)

By Angela Moon

NEW YORK, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Wall Street edged higher and the Dow touched a fresh 13-month high on Tuesday as several positive corporate announcements helped stocks extend gains.

American International Group (AIG.N) rose 4.2 percent to $37.75 after ratings agency Moody's Investors Service said the insurer will likely be able to repay the government's loan and much of its preferred equity stake. For details see[ID:nN10305295].

Major indexes fell at the open, one day after the Dow hit a 13-month high on optimism that global central banks would continue to pump money into the financial system amid a slow economic recovery.

"What we've seen since this rally started in March is whenever you get any kind of weakness, buyers come in. The trend is still on the upward side and investors are looking at any weakness as a buying opportunity," said Alan Lancz, president of Alan B. Lancz & Associates Inc in Toledo, Ohio.

The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI was up 23.88 points, or 0.23 percent, at 10,250.82. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index .SPX was up 2.31 points, or 0.21 percent, at 1,095.39. The Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC was up 4.38 points, or 0.20 percent, at 2,158.44.

Major indexes gained on Monday after the Group of 20 nations pledged to keep aid flowing to the world economy, strengthening investor appetite for risk and boosting global stocks and commodities. For details, see [ID:nLQ516726] and [ID:nL9362990]

Online travel agency Priceline.com (PCLN.O) gained 16 percent to $201.92 after a number of brokerage upgrades including from Citigroup and RBC. Priceline posted solid quarterly profit after the bell on Monday.

Home builder Beazer Homes USA (BZH.N) rose 12.4 percent to $5.27 after the company swung to a fourth-quarter profit. [ID:nN10300104] (Additional Reporting by Leah Schnurr; Editing by Padraic Cassidy)



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