Dow industrials are in positive territory for 2009 for the first time since January, ending Friday above its 2008 close of 8,776.39.
Markets have rallied for three months straight, since bottoming March 9. In that time, the Dow has gained just over 34%, the S&P 500 40% and the Nasdaq 47%, as of Friday’s close. Bets that the pace of the recession is waning have helped fuel the advance.