国际英语新闻：Dow, Nasdaq set new closing highs as stocks hold gains

NEW YORK, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- U.S. stocks managed to stay in positive area after a choppy session on Wednesday, pushing Dow and Nasdaq to highest levels in more than a year.

    The Dow Jones Industrial Average inched up 3.1, or 0.03 percent, to 10,548.51, the highest close in nearly 15 months. Alcoa, the Dow's best performer on Wednesday, rose 27 cents, or 1.7 percent, to 16.30 U.S. dollars a share. U.S. Steel climbed 80 cents, or 1.5percent, to 55.51 dollars, while Nucor rose 1 dollar, or 2.2 percent, to 47.06 dollars.

    The Nasdaq Composite rose 2.88, or 0.13 percent, to 2,291.28, its highest close since Sept. 3, 2008. Intel climbed 19 cents, or 0.9 percent, to 20.59 dollars. But Microsoft fell 43 cents, or 1.4 percent, to 30.96 dollars.

    The Standard & Poor's 500 index climbed 0.23, or 0.02 percent, to 1,126.42. Its technology and materials sectors led to the upside, offsetting declines across consumer discretionary and industrial stocks.

    Energy companies dragged the market down on Wednesday as investors weigh a mixed oil inventory report. U.S. Energy Department reported a fourth straight week decrease in crude supplies, but slightly less than analysts' forecasts. However, the industry group American Petroleum Institute reported a 1.7-million-barrel increase in oil stockpiles after market closed on Tuesday.

    Dollar rose against both euro and yen, pressuring on commodities prices and affecting companies with overseas business. Gold futures prices fell, sending materials sector down.

    Financials were among the weakest performers as GMAC is reported to request more government aid. The U.S. Treasury announced on late Wednesday afternoon that it would provide GMAC an additional 3.8 billion dollars.

    "These actions offer the best chance for GMAC to complete its overall restructuring plan and return to the private capital markets for its debt financing and capital needs in 2010," the Treasury Department said in a statement.

    GMAC had already received 12.5 billion dollars of aid from the U.S. government since December 2008. The latest capital injection brings total taxpayer aid to 16.3 billion dollars.

    Upbeat economic data helped to pare losses. The Institute for Supply Management-Chicago said on Wednesday its business barometer rose to 60.0 from 56.1 in November, the highest reading since January 2006.

    The reading was much better than analysts' median forecast of 55.0. A reading above 50 in the report, also known as the Chicago PMI, indicates expansion in the regional economy.

    Health insurer Aetna Inc said on Wednesday that, in a bid to make preparation for the impact that health care reform and regulatory changes may have on the company's business, it expects to take a charge of 60 million to 65 million dollars in the fourth quarter of 2009 to cover costs associated with job cuts and real estate consolidation. Aetna shares lost 71 cents, or 2.16 percent, to 32.15 dollars as market closed on Wednesday.