Stocks Rise in U.S. as Treasuries Retreat, Dollar StrengthensBy Michael P. Regan and Rita Nazareth
Jan. 19 (
Bloomberg) -- U.S. stocks rose, boosted by a rally in health companies on speculation Republicans will block an industry overhaul, while Treasuries fell for the first time in three days and the dollar strengthened.
The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index added 1 percent at 2:45 p.m. in New York. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury rose three basis points to 3.71 percent. The Dollar Index, which gauges the currency against six major U.S. trading partners, rallied 0.6 percent. Europe’s Dow Jones Stoxx 600 Index erased an earlier decline. British government bonds tumbled after the U.K. inflation rate increased by the most on record.
“Money is finding its way out of Treasuries and into the stock market,” said Mark Bronzo, a money manager in Irvington, New York, at Security Global Investors, which oversees $22 billion. “Investors are expecting good earnings, especially from technology companies. In addition to that, health-care stocks are rallying because a Republican victory in Massachusetts might change the debate.”
An index of health-care companies in the S&P 500 led the advance with a 1.9 percent rally. U.S. Democrats face the possibility of losing a Senate seat held by the late Edward Kennedy as voters in Massachusetts go to the polls. A loss could cost them a 60-vote supermajority needed to help pass a health- care overhaul.
Ciena Corp. surged 9.7 percent to lead an advance in technology companies after Credit Suisse Group AG advised buying the shares on prospects for revenue growth. As many as 65 companies in the S&P 500 are scheduled to release results this week. Combined earnings increased 67 percent in the fourth quarter for companies in the index, according to a Bloomberg survey of analysts, after a record nine quarters of declines. ...........(more)
The complete piece is at:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aM.XQWBDUrN4&pos=2