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Business Title: S&P Surges Above Highest Close Since 2007 on Fed's Plans U.S. stocks rose, sending the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index above its highest close since 2007, as the Federal Reserve said it will buy mortgage-backed securities to bolster the economy. All 10 groups in the S&P 500 gained. Alcoa Inc. (AA) and Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. (CLF) rallied at least 2.5 percent as commodity companies advanced. Bank of America Corp. (BAC) and JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) jumped more than 3.6 percent to pace gains among financial shares. Pall Corp. (PLL) rose 8.3 percent as it reported quarterly earnings that topped analysts’ estimates. Apple Inc. (AAPL) added 2.1 percent after unveiling yesterday a new version of the iPhone. The S&P 500 gained 1.6 percent to 1,459.29 at 3:16 p.m. in New York. The index is up for the third straight day. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 196.29 points, or 1.5 percent, to 13,529.64. Trading in S&P 500 companies was up 42 percent from the 30-day average at this time of day. “It was a very powerful statement,” Kevin Caron, a market strategist at Stifel Nicolaus & Co. in Florham Park, New Jersey, said in a telephone interview. The firm oversees about $127 billion. “The Fed is going all in here, especially with their commitment to continue asset purchases until they see the desired result in the form of a lower unemployment rate. This statement removes a lot of uncertainty about the Fed’s commitment to maintaining price stability.” The Fed said it will expand its holdings of long-term securities with open-ended purchases of $40 billion of mortgage debt a month. The central bank will continue its purchases of mortgage-backed securities and undertake other asset purchases if the outlook for the labor market doesn’t improve substantially, the Federal Open Market Committee said today in a statement at the end of its two-day meeting in Washington. Near Zero The FOMC also said it would probably hold the federal funds rate near zero “at least through mid-2015.” Since January, the Fed had said the rate was likely to stay low at least through late 2014. Fed officials said economic growth will improve faster than they had earlier projected, as they upgraded their 2013 and 2014 estimates for gross domestic product. “What the market didn’t expect was having this labor market kicker,” John Canally, an economist and investment strategist at LPL Financial Corp. in Boston, by phone. The firm oversees about $350 billion. “The Fed said if the labor market doesn’t improve, the committee will continue.” He said, “That was a little bit of a bolder step than the market would have thought and what is adding to the risk-on trade here.” Data today showed the number of Americans filing applications for unemployment benefits rose more than projected last week, indicating scant improvement on the outlook for jobs. Wholesale prices in the U.S. increased in August by the most in more than three years, reflecting a surge in energy costs. ‘Grave Concern’ Two rounds of large-scale asset purchases totaling $2.3 trillion have failed to reduce the jobless rate below 8 percent more than three years into the recovery. In a speech to central bankers and economists on Aug. 31, Fed Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said “the stagnation of the labor market in particular is a grave concern.” The S&P 500 is about 7 percent from reaching its record closing high after rallying 16 percent this year. The equities index has climbed in the past three months amid expectations central banks will take steps to stimulate the economy. The European Central Bank last week announced a bond-buying program. JPMorgan, Alcoa All 30 stocks in the Dow rallied and all 10 groups in the S&P 500 rose at least 0.9 percent, led by commodity and financial shares. Alcoa, the largest U.S. aluminum producer, gained 2.5 percent to $9.58, and Cliffs Natural Resources, the biggest iron-ore producer in the country, jumped 6.7 percent to $43.35. Bank of America, the second-largest U.S. bank by assets, increased 5.1 percent to $9.43. JPMorgan added 3.6 percent to $41.36. Shares of the New York-based lender have erased their decline since Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon disclosed a $2 billion trading loss in May. The Morgan Stanley Cyclical Index (CYC), a gauge of 30 U.S. stocks tied to economic growth, rose for the third-straight day, climbing 1.6 percent. The KBW Bank Index, a measure of 24 U.S. lenders, jumped 2.6 percent to 50.91, the highest intraday since May 2011. Pall rallied 8.3 percent to $63.01 after the supplier of filters for drugmakers and refineries said pro forma earnings from continuing operations in the fourth quarter was 86 cents a share, exceeding the average analyst estimate of 77 cents. Apple Jumps Apple gained 2.1 percent to $684.05, after advancing 1.4 percent yesterday. The company is betting the new iPhone, which has a bigger screen, a faster chip and access to speedier wireless networks, is loaded with enough functionality to set it apart in a market swiftly crowding with phones by Nokia Oyj, Microsoft Corp. and Samsung Electronics Co. The device may be poised to become the fastest-selling technology gadget in history. Carl Howe, an analyst at Boston- based Yankee Group, predicted Apple will sell more than 10 million by month’s end, surpassing the record set last year by the predecessor device, the iPhone 4S. Northrop Grumman Corp. (NOC) fell 1.9 percent to $66.67. Revenue and margins at the maker of Global Hawk surveillance drones may decline more than other large defense companies as the U.S. makes budget cuts, according to UBS AG analyst David Strauss. Nike Inc. (NKE) slid 1.4 percent to $99.44. Kate McShane, an analyst at Citigroup Inc., cut her recommendation on the stock from buy to neutral, citing valuation and the potential for deceleration of future orders.
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