Stocks powered ahead yesterday, on Monday, breaking last week's losing streak, as investors sidestepped a dour outlook from networking equipment maker Emulex Corp and hunted for companies that could best weather the nation's economic downturn.

"Investors are looking for companies with real earnings and are starting to pay attention to them when they find them," said Mr Jim Oberweis, president and portfolio manager of Oberweis Asset Management, which oversees about $300 million. "The companies that have been losing money are still under pressure and are likely to continue that way."

The blue-chip climbing back into positive territory for the year after suffering a four-session losing streak last week.