MIDDAY LUNCH

Dow 10935.61  +99.16, Nasdaq 2427.39  +28.63, S&P 1178.82  +11.10 

The market has started to fall from today’s session highs, but it’s still posting nice gains.   The pause comes as the S&P 500 nears the 1180 line, which hasn't been touched since late September 2008.

Strength remains broad based as advancing issues outnumber decliners by 3-to-1 in the S&P 500. Tech and Financials continue to be the leaders today.   Microsoft (MSFT) 30.49 +0.84, +2.83%, Google (GOOG) 569.04 +11.71 +2.10%, Qualcomm (QCOM)  42.64 +2.64, +6.12%, AIG (AIG) 35.36 +2.19, +6.62%, Citigroup 4.36 +0.21, +5.06%

Fed Chairman Bernanke began his testimony about the Fed's exit strategy from the extraordinary measures it has taken to pull the U.S. economy out of recession to the House Financial Services Committee.  In his testimony,  he stated that the language regarding low levels of interest rates for an extended period depends on the economy in which unemployment and capacity utilization are two key metrics in that assessment.