On Monday S&P 500 benchmark index
advanced 1.03% or 12.80 points reaching 1,257.08 after Italian PM Monti
presented austerity and growth plan. Main supporters for the index were banking
shares while health-care firms were among main decliners. Morgan Stanley added
6.77%, Citigroup Inc. rose 5.89%, while J P Morgan Chase & Co jumped 3.65%.
Washington Post Company and Newfield Exploration Company pushed down the index
as their shares lost 4.46% and 3.44% respectively.