Stocks soared broadly across the board to finish near session highs Wednesday, propelling the Dow and S&P 500 to new record levels, boosted by strong gains in techs.
Judge Edward Harrington said investors who brought the lawsuit fell short of demonstrating a wider "overarching" conspiracy to drive down takeover prices.
With the help of the private equity firm Silver Lake and Microsoft, Michael S. Dell, the founder and chief executive, is buying back his computer company. And that is cause for concern.
It is shaping up to be the worst cold and flu season in about ten years, with more than 40 states reporting widespread influenza doctor visits and hospitalizations.
The Dow and S&P 500 closed higher for the day and the week following an upbeat government jobs report and amid ongoing "fiscal cliff" negotiations, while the Nasdaq finished in the red.
The race to beat the "dividend cliff" is on – and it's generating some big pay-days for CEOs and company founders. Special dividends will total more than $22 billion this quarter.
Stocks ended lower Monday, weighed by a weaker-than-expected manufacturing report and despite new details of a counter-offer from House Republicans to avert the "fiscal cliff."