S&P 500: First Day Better Than All of 2011

The S&P 500 has posted a gain of nearly 20 points, or 1.54%, on the first trading day of 2012, which compares to a loss of 0.04% for all of 2011. Around mid-day, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which rose 5.5% in 2011, has added 184 points to 12,401 and the NASDAQ Composite is up 41 points or 1.58%. The NASDAQ lost 1.8% in 2011. Compared to a volatile, and largely fruitless last year, 2012 is starting off on a strong foot.