MIDDAY LUNCH

Dow 10591.44  +163.65, Nasdaq 2308.34  +39.19, S&P 1133.03  +17.96 

The first day of trading in 2010 remains a good one with all three indices in higher territory.  Buying has been strong today since the opening bell.

Helping the market today is the ISM report.  The ISM Manufacturing Index for December came in at 55.9, which is above the 54.3 that had been expected. The December reading is also above the 53.6 for November.

A weaker Dollar is also helping stocks, the Dollar Index is off -0.5%.  Additionally the weaker Dollar is helping natural resource stocks.  Energy stocks and materials stocks have been the best performers this session.

Gold prices are off of their session high, but continue to have a +2.0% gain to trade at $1118.00 per ounce.

Construction spending for November decreased -0.6% month-over-month, but that was weaker than the 0.5% decrease that had been widely forecast. Construction spending for October was revised downward to reflect a decrease of -0.5%.