Stocks post best September in 71 years

[cbdo2007]

By Blake Ellis, staff reporterSeptember 30, 2010: 4:49 PM ET

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- U.S. stocks fizzled Friday, but that didn't stop the market from logging its best September in decades.

Dow Jones industrial average (INDU) slipped 47 points, or 0.4%, after soaring more than 100 points at the start of trading. The S&P 500 (SPX) fell 4 points, or 0.3%, and the Nasdaq (COMP) ticked down 8 points, or 0.3%.

Economic jitters have kept stocks from breaking out of a narrow range this week. And while upbeat readings on employment and economic growth helped spark an early rally Thursday, gains subsided as worries about the euro zone bubbled up.

Despite the stomach churning month, stocks ended September with strong gains. The Dow jumped 7.7%, the biggest September gain in 71 years. The S&P also posted the biggest gain since 1939, rising 8.7% in the month, while the Nasdaq climbed 12%.

http://money.cnn.com/2010/09/30/markets/markets_newyork/index.htm?hpt=T2

[DJ13]

1. biggest gain since 1939

Im not sure thats a good thing.

There were many huge rallies during the depression of the 30's, but they never did signify the actual economy was improving.

[cbdo2007]

2. So you would rather see the headline "biggest loss since 1939"?

Out of our two scenarios, which would you suspect is probably more likely a "good thing" than the other? ha haha

[niceypoo]

3. Is that the only alternative?

I agree, the stock market is a false indicator

[DJ13]

4. No, Im really saying the market has no bearing on the real economy

It is known to go down when things improve, and go up when things go bad.

The biggest concern over the last couple of years on the NYSE has been the loss of the retail (regular people) investors.

The reason the retail investors have abandoned stocks is the illogical nature of the trading since the recession started.

[SoCalDem]

6. Company X lays off 8,000.. The Market LOVES it

:(

It's only a Casino....

[cbdo2007]

10. Your example and your comparison don't match up.

A casino has no cause and effect yet your example has a definite cause and effect.

[SoCalDem]

13. I did not intend to make a comparison/example.

The market does love it when companies "streamline"..aka fire people..

The market is a casino..where the daring young(usually) gamblers play with OPM (other people's money), rewarding themselves handsomely.

Both can coexist, and need not amplify/justify the other:)

[DCBob]

5. That's encouraging..

Investors are getting more and more optimistic.

[Scurrilous]

7. K & R

:thumbsup:

[Change Happens]

8. Most excellent!

[underpants]

9. THE MARKET IS NOT THE ECONOMY!!!

that was the refrain from the right and MSM when Clinton was in office.

It became the economy when Bush was in office (except when it was bad).

Now the market and the economy are never mentioned in the same breath.

[lame54]

12. no , but it could be the election

[Techn0Girl]

11. That must be nice for J.P Morgan. Sucks to be one of the 30 milion unemployed though ...

[TexasObserver]

14. It's a nice trend, and good news for Democrats.

It's rigged!
It's fixed!
It's a ponzi scheme!
It's the plunge protection team!
It's the powers that be, always!
It's, it's ...


The return to a quality economy is a long, slow, often interrupted, march. That doesn't sit well with some. It goes without saying that more could have been done, and that more needs to be done. The news is encouraging, for those who really want to see jobs return.

We didn't get into the worst economy in 80 years in 20 months, and it's unreasonable to expect us to be out of it in 20 months.