The Dow Jones Industrial Average (Dow Jones Indices: .DJI) is up to a new all-time high following two positive economic reports. As of 1:35 p.m. EST the Dow is up 157 points, or 1.1%, to 14,285. The S&P 500 (S&P Indices: .INX) is up 1.2% to 1,543.
| Report | Period | Result | Previous |
|---|---|---|---|
| CoreLogic Home Price Index | January | 0.7% | 0.2% |
| ISM Non-Manufacturing Index | February | 56% | 55.2% |
The first economic release was CoreLogic’s Home Price Index, which rose 0.7% from December and 9.7% in the 12-month period ending Jan. 31. CoreLogic chief economist Mark Fleming noted:
The [Home Price Index] showed strong growth during the typically slow winter season. With these gains, the housing market is poised to enter the spring selling season on sound footing. The improvements are materializing across the country, with all but Delaware and Illinois showing increasing HPI and 15 states within 10 percent of their peak values.
The second economic release was from the Institute for Supply Management, which reported that its Non-Manufacturing Index rose 0.8 percentage points to 56% in February. That’s above January’s 55.2% and analyst expectations of 55.2%. Any reading higher than 50% indicates economic growth. The rise in the index to 56% indicates that responders believe the economy is still growing, and at a faster rate than in January.
Today’s Dow leader
Leading the Dow to record highs is beleaguered tech giant Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HPQ) , up 2.6%. Last year was rough for Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HPQ), which finished down 46% after two $8 billion-plus writedowns for relatively recent acquisitions. The second of those writedowns was for Autonomy, which was purchased in August of 2011 for $10.3 billion and written down for $8.8 billion in November 2012.
Today, in response to the Autonomy disaster, institutional proxy advisor ISS recommended that shareholders in Hewlett-Packard vote against the re-election of Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HPQ) chairman Ray Lane, as well as board members John Hammergren and G. Kennedy Thompson. John Hammergren is chairman and CEO of McKesson and chairs HP’s finance and investment committee. G. Kennedy Thompson was CEO of Wachovia from 2000 to 2008 and is chairman of HP’s audit committee.
Meg Whitman’s turnaround of the company is beginning to take shape. A key part of that should include the removal of those who were responsible for oversight of the company’s two enormously failed acquisitions.
The article This Stock Is Leading the Dow to an All-Time High originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Dan Dzombak.
Dan Dzombak can be found on Twitter @DanDzombak or on his Facebook page, DanDzombak. He has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned.
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