US, UK stocks surge

Published October 12, 2001

NEW YORK, Oct 11: Technology stocks etched out fresh day highs in early afternoon trading on Thursday, as a batch of corporate results brightened Wall Street’s mood and helped the broad market erase the loss made since the deadly attacks on the US one month ago.

The technology-laced Nasdaq Composite Index rose strongly, hoisted by a surge in computer chip and chip-equipment stocks. It gained 67.93 points, or 4.18 per cent, to 1,694.19, erasing virtually all of its loss since its close on Sept 10.

The Dow Jones industrial average was up 164.89 points, or 1.78 per cent, at 9,405.75 after gaining more than 2 per cent earlier in the session. Diversified manufacturer Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Co. helped out with a gain of $4.58 to $106.42. The Dow is still down more than 2 per cent from its pre-attack level.

London’s FTSE 100 index belted up more than two per cent before disappointing news from telecoms group BT dragged the index back to close at 5,164.9 points—Reuters/AFP