U.S. Stocks In Highest Close After Bernanke Remark

September 15, 2009 5:36 p.m. EST

New York, NY (AHN) - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's remark that the recession is likely over and a jump in August retail sales sent Wall Street to its highest close this year on Tuesday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average, beefed up by 56.61 points or 0.5 percent and gains by Alcoa, Caterpillar and General Electric, closed at 9,683 points. It was the eighth consecutive rise and highest close of the Dow since Oct. 2, 2008, according to reports.

The Nasdaq Composite Index went up 10.86 points or 0.5 percent to end at 2,102.64 while the Standard & Poor's 500 Index climbed 3.29 points or 0.3 percent to 1.052.53. It was the highest close for Nasdaq since Sept. 26, 2008 and the S & P since Oct. 6.

On the New York Mercantile Index, gold prices closed $5 or 0.5 percent higher at $1,006 an ounce. Crude oil futures finished $2 or 3 percent higher at $70.93 a barrel.