U.S. stocks rose, extending the biggest first-quarter advance since 1998 for the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index

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U.S. stocks rose, extending the biggest first-quarter advance since 1998 for the Standard & Poor's 500 Index, as stronger-than-forecast growth in consumer sentiment and spending bolstered optimism in the economy.

The S&P 500 advanced 0.4 percent to 1,408.47 at 4 p.m. New York time, extending its quarterly rally to 12 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased 66.22 points, or 0.5 percent, to 13,212.04. The Nasdaq Composite Index declined 0.1 percent to 3,091.57. The measure still posted the biggest first-quarter gain since 1991 (CCMP), surging 19 percent. The Russell 2000 Index of small companies declined 0.2 percent to 830.30 today.

"There's no reason to avoid equities just because they've gone up a lot," said David Kelly, who helps oversee about $394 billion as chief market strategist at JPMorgan Funds in New York. "People are less fearful of a global financial meltdown emanating from Europe. If you look at valuations and the potential for economic growth, those things tell me the market should have room to move higher over the next few years."

DJIA.........13212 +66.2 +0.50%
S&P 500....1408 +5.19 +0.37%
Nasdaq....3091 -3.79 -0.12%
FTSE........5768 +26.4 +0.46%
CAC...........3424 +42.7 +1.26%
DAX...........6947 +71.7 +1.04%

EUR........1.3343 +0.00 +0.32%
IDR...........9145 -18.0 -0.19%
EIDO........30.94 +0.47 +1.54%
TLK.........30.36 +0.21 +0.70%
IIT.............27.99 0.00 0.00%
BUMI Plc...626.5 -8.50 -1.34%

CrudeOil...103.0 -0.31 -0.30%
GOLD..........1668 +7.32 +0.44%
TIN...........22750 +220. +0.98%
Nickel.....17745 +620. +3.62%
COAL....104.40 -0.50 -0.48%^
^ Newcastle weekly price 27 Mar

CPO......RM3483 0.00 0.00%
DOC..........4000 -750. -15.8%
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