CLOSING BELL

Dow 10725.43  +115.78, Nasdaq 2320.40  +32.41, S&P 1150.23  +14.20 

Today’s rally pushed stocks to a new 52 week high.  Stocks opened today in mixed fashion, but soon the buying kicked in and today’s advance remained broad based and strong into the close.

Health care was today’s best performer; +2.0%.  The thought is that a Republican election win to the vacant Massachusetts Senate seat could stall health care reform.  Companies benefiting today are: United Health Care (UNH) 34.98 +1.05, +3.11% Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) 65.49 +0.79, +1.22% Quest Diagnostics (DGX) 61.95 +1.36, +2.26%.

Tech was another strong source of support for the stock market. The Tech sector climbed +1.6% as IBM (IBM) 134.14, +2.36 hit a fresh 52-week high ahead of its quarterly announcement.  After the market closed the company beat both their earnings and revenue estimates.

The dollar had a gain of 0.5% today on worries that the U.K.’s AAA debt rating could be lowered.

Advancing Sectors: Health Care +2.0%, Tech +1.6%, Materials +1.6%, Telecom +1.5%, Utilities +1.2%, Consumer Discretionary +1.2%, Financial +1.1%, Industrials +0.9%, Energy +0.9%, Consumer Staples +0.6%

Declining Sectors: (None)