Thu, 03 Jan 2013 17:38:54 GMT
S&P
U.S. equities surged after lawmakers passed a budget bill averting automatic spending cuts and tax increases. The S&P index rallied 2.5% to 1,462.42, the biggest gain in one year. All 10 groups in the benchmark index edged at least 1.8% higher. The S&P jumped 1.7% on December 31, showing the biggest gain in the last day of year since 1974.