Fri, 18 Jan 2013 12:51:04 GMT
Dow close to its highest level since 2007
U.S. blue chips advanced as U.S. housing starts rose 12.1% to 954,000 in December to 954,000 on annual basis and the number of unemployment claimants dropped by 37,000 to 330,000, the lowest level since January 2008, last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 0.6% to 13,596.02. All but one sector gained in the index. Intel Corp. shares surged 2.6%,