Technology Slice Blog

Dow Jones Industrial Average Surges - U.S. stocks capped their best two-day performance since July as better-than-expected retail and home sales painted a brighter picture of the U.S. economy. Also helping stocks, pressure on the euro eased on talk that the European Central Bank was actively buying more bonds of some of the bloc's more financially stressed governments. The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished Thursday up 106.63 points, or 0.95%, to 11362.41. The blue-chip index has gained 3.2% in the first two days of December, its largest two-day rise since July 8. Bank of America and J.P. Morgan Chase were among the Dow's strongest components after Goldman Sachs lifted its view on the financial sector to "overweight," marking the first time the firm has been positive on the industry since 2008. Bank of America climbed 39 cents, or 3.5%, to $11.68 and J.P. Morgan added $1.16, or 3%, to $39.31. The technology-oriented Nasdaq Composite gained 29.92 points, or...