Market Watch 2/01/10

Stock Market Closing Prices – 2/01/10

Dow Jones Industrial Average ( DJIA ) Close – 10185.53 +118.20
Nasdaq Stock Market Close – 2171.20 +23.85
S&P 500 Close – 1089.18 +15.31

Commodities Closing Prices – 2/01/10

Gold Close – 1106.60
Oil Close – 74.77
Natural Gas – 5.42

Jumps in manufacturing activity and consumer spending lift stock prices;

Encouraging economic reports lifted stocks Monday and bolstered hopes that the recovery is in better shape than many had believed.

Investors also looked to earnings at Exxon Mobil, which topped expectations and helped pull energy stocks higher. The company's shares rose $1.75, or 2.7 percent, to $66.18.

Market expert predicts that the jobs report will come in better than expected. While that would be good for the economy, an especially strong reading on the job market might also prompt concerns about when the Federal Reserve will have to start raising interest rates from their historic lows.