Stocks rise on economic news, airline merger

[NJmaverick]

Source: Associated Press

NEW YORK – Stocks rose Monday after improved economic reports and a merger between United and Continental Airlines raised expectations about a recovery.
United is acquiring Continental in a stock deal worth about $3 billion. Corporate dealmaking is seen as another sign the economy is improving and companies are comfortable making commitments to expand their businesses.
Reports on manufacturing, construction spending and consumer spending boosted expectations that the economy is bouncing back.
The Institute for Supply Management said that U.S. manufacturing activity expanded at the fastest pace in nearly six years. The trade group's manufacturing index rose to 60.4 in April from 59.6 in March. Economists expected a reading of 60. Manufacturing has shown consistent signs of a rebound in recent months as production picks back up.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100503/ap_on_bi_st_ma_re/us_wall_street;_ylt=AojgX9P0TIfbl4R6azn8svGs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTFlZzB2a2c0BHBvcwM5OQRzZWMDYWNjb3JkaW9uX2J1c2luZXNzBHNsawNzdG9ja3NyaXNlb24-

[Mika]

1. Good news, brothers and sisters! Chocolate rations are up to 5g!

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[NJmaverick]

2. Is it a full moon tonight?

:shrug:

[dotymed]

3. Jobless recovery

improves due to monopolization. Of course more jobs were cut, but hey, wall street is mopping up.

[NJmaverick]

4. Jobless recovery is a disproven talking point used for political gain

to knock the early phase of an economic recovery.