Optimism on official data reigns

WALL Street stocks jumped higher again today, adding to last week's records before a slew of delayed US economic figures and …

WALL Street stocks jumped higher again today, adding to last week's records before a slew of delayed US economic figures and a key Federal Reserve meeting on interest rates. The Dow Jones reached its fourth new high in a week.

Broad market indexes were also higher, with the NYSE composite index padding last week's record finish. The Nasdaq composite struggled higher as technology issues stumbled amid continued economic uncertainty.

The market's direction was less than decisive most of the day, however, in advance of a Federal Reserve meeting on interest rates tomorrow and on Wednesday.

Advances outnumbered declines by more than 4 to 3 on the New York Stock Exchange, with 1,322 up, 969 down and 793 unchanged. The Nasdaq composite index rose 1.37 at 1,042.33. At the American Stock Exchange, the market value index rose 2.42 to 547.66.