US stocks extend gains to 4th day; Banks falter

Source: Agencies  |   2009-6-3  |     ONLINE EDITION

STOCKS tacked on modest gains yesterday to extend a rally to a fourth day following a strong rise in pending home sales, the latest encouraging signal for the troubled housing market.

The Dow Jones industrial average briefly pushed into the black for 2009 but ended 35.5 points below the break-even mark. In March, the blue chips were down 25.4 percent for the year.

A slump in financial shares kept overall buying in check as several big banks said they would sell more stock to repay federal bailout money. The modest moves followed huge gains on Monday, when indicators jumped more than 2 percent on positive signs for manufacturing and other good economic signals.

The main driver of stock gains was a report showing the biggest jump in nearly eight years in pending home sales for April, however some market watchers worried that the sudden gains since last week may be overdone.

"The fear is that we're unable to tell whether we have green shoots sprouting or weeds popping up through cracks in the concrete," said Lawrence Creatura, portfolio manager at Federated Investors in Rochester, New York. He was referring to early positive signs in the economy that Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has called "green shoots."

The Dow rose 19.43, or 0.2 percent, to 8,740.87. The Dow at times traded above 8,776.39, its finish for 2008. While it remains down moderately for the year, the Dow is up 5.3 percent in four days, a gain that could otherwise take months to achieve.

The broader Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 1.87, or 0.2 percent, to 944.74, and the Nasdaq composite index rose 8.12, or 0.4 percent, to 1,836.80. Both indexes are up for 2009.

Financial stocks mostly lost ground as several banks said they would sell shares to raise capital. Adding to their share base can dilute the value of existing shares.

Morgan Stanley said it will raise US$2.2 billion in common stock offering, after JPMorgan Chase & Co. and American Express Co. announced similar plans late Monday. JPMorgan will offer US$5 billion of common stock, while American Express is seeking to raise US$500 million.

Morgan Stanley rose 20 cents to US$30.09, while JPMorgan fell US$1.61, or 4.5 percent, to US$34.50. American Express slid US$1.28, or 4.9 percent, to US$24.71.

Meanwhile, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. has sold part of its stake in Industrial & Commercial Bank of China to raise more than US$1.9 billion to help repay bailout money. Goldman fell US$1.20 to US$143.13.

"We've seen a drumbeat of new issuance in the banking sector. So far, the market has been able to absorb the supply pretty well. It's going to be yet another test," said Craig Peckham an analyst at Jefferies & Co.

Banks that want to repay bailout funds but weren't required by the government to raise additional capital must first prove they can raise money without relying on guarantees against losses provided by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

Investors drew some confidence from auto sales reports following the bankruptcies by Chrysler LLC and General Motors Corp. after GM formally filed for protection Monday.

GM said its U.S. sales fell 30 percent in May from a year ago but were 11 percent better than in April. Ford said its U.S. sales fell 24 percent from a year earlier but were up 20 percent from April. Chrysler LLC's U.S. sales fell 46.9 percent, as the company wrapped up its first month under bankruptcy protection.

Ford shares rose 28 cents, or 4.6 percent, to US$6.41. GM shares no longer trade on the New York Stock Exchange and Chrysler isn't public.

Investors have been encouraged this spring by data suggesting the economy's slide is slowing, sending major stock indicators up 30 to 40 percent from the 12-year lows they hit in early March. The market has been able to look past unsettling but widely expected events such as the bankruptcies of Chrysler and GM, as well as dismal reports on the labor market.