CLOSING BELL

Dow 10547.08  +26.98, Nasdaq 2291.08  +5.39, S&P 1127.78  +1.30,

The stock market drifted from gains to losses and back to gains with little conviction today. Stocks started the day on the plus side taking a clue from overseas markets and a weaker dollar.

Japan had some better than expected economic data and China announced that they would leave their stimulus policies intact.

But by afternoon Financials pressured the market into negative territory.

Retailers helped pull the market back to the plus side. According to MasterCard’s SpendingPulse total retail sales rose 3.6% between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. This year was a better year over 2008, store owners say they offered fewer discounts and managed to keep prices relatively steady. Additionally online retailers saw a 15% sales increase.

Treasuries prices fell. That took the benchmark 10-year Note down nine ticks and its yield to 3.84%, which puts it near four-month highs.

           

Advancing Sectors: Telecom (+0.6%), Health Care (+0.4%), Energy (+0.3%), Tech (+0.2%), Utilities (+0.2%), Materials (+0.2%), Consumer Staples (+0.1%)

Declining Sectors: Financials (-0.3%), Industrials (-0.1%)

Unchanged: Consumer Discretionary