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- Investors are hoping three's a charm on Wall Street today. Yesterday, the Dow Jones industrial average rose sharply for a second straight day, closing within 89 points of its all-time high. The Dow was up 175 points, closing at 14,075. That's 290 points in the past two days. The S&P 500 index gained 19 points yesterday. The Nasdaq composite rose nearly 33 points. Futures trading suggests more gains this morning.
- International stock markets rose today as positive economic indicators and the nomination of a pro-stimulus Bank of Japan chief bolstered hopes for faster growth. Benchmark crude oil fell below $93 per barrel. The dollar was almost flat against the euro and gained against the yen.
- There are some important economic indicators due out today. The Labor Department releases weekly jobless claims and the Commerce Department reports on the fourth-quarter gross domestic product. Also today, mortgage giant Freddie Mac releases weekly mortgage rates.
- The Senate has confirmed Jacob Lew to be Treasury secretary, affirming President Barack Obama's choice of a budget expert at a time when Congress and the White House are at odds over sharp government spending cuts. Lew had most recently served as Obama's chief of staff. He succeeds Timothy Geithner.
- Chrysler says it's adding 1,250 new jobs at transmission and metal casting factories in the Kokomo, Indiana, area. The company is investing $162 million in the area to build fuel-efficient eight- and nine-speed automatic transmissions.
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