Markets: News  

U.S. stocks rally to finish down quarter

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- U.S. stocks leapt on Friday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average tallying its best month of the year and the Nasdaq Composite posting its best day for 2012, after Europe moved to bolster the economies of its more troubled nations. "It's a snapback on what has been largely feared, short covering and a little bit of optimism," said Robert Pavlik, chief market strategist at Banyan Partners. Up 3.9% for the month and off 2.5% for the quarter, the Dow industrials rose 277.83 points, or 2.2%, to 12,880.09. The S&P 500 added 33.12 points, or 2.5%, to 1,362.16, leaving it with a 4% June gain and down 3.3% for the quarter. The Nasdaq Composite rose 85.56 points, or 3%, to 2,935.05, up 3.8% for the month and down 5.1% for the quarter.