That stock News

By CHIP CUTTER and DAVID K. RANDALL, AP Business Writers Chip Cutter And David K. Randall, Ap Business Writers – Mon?Dec?20, 5:35?pm?ET

NEW YORK – Low trading volumes and a lack of economic reports kept stocks confined to a narrow range Monday. Indexes finished mixed and bond yields were barely changed.

American Express Co. had the largest move of the 30 stocks that make up the Dow Jones industrial average. The card issuer fell 3.4 percent to $42.50 after Stifel Nicolaus downgraded the company. New rules proposed by the Federal Reserve could limit fees the company charges merchants.

Aloca Inc. led the Dow index with a 1.4 percent gain to $14.77.

The Dow fell 13.78, or 0.1 percent, to 11,478.13. The Standard and Poor's 500-stock index rose 3.17, or 0.3 percent, to 1,247.08. The Nasdaq composite index gained 6.59, or 0.3 percent, to finish at 2,649.56.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury bond rose slightly to 3.35 from 3.33 percent late Friday.

Stocks have been rising strongly in December. The Dow has gained 4.3 percent so far this month and the S&P has hit seven new annual highs since Dec. 8.

Investors have been encouraged by improving economic data on retail sales, consumer confidence and factory production, as well as policy changes that will benefit stockholders. President Barack Obama signed a bill last week that will keep Bush-era income tax cuts in place for another two years. The law will also extend favorable tax rates on capital gains and dividends.

"The markets ... made quite a run," said Stephen Carl, principal and head of equity trading at The Williams Capital Group. But the tax cuts "can only go so far," Carl said, and are unlikely to continue sending stocks higher.

In corporate news, Boeing Inc. fell 2.7 percent to $63.27 even as the company said it was increasing the production rate for its 777 aircraft again in response to strong demand. Last week, the aerospace giant said that customers canceled orders for three 777s and one of its 787s.

Medtronic Inc. rose 0.6 percent to $37.62 after the world's largest medical device manufacturer said its chairman and CEO will step down in April after leading the company for three years.

Later in the week, investors will get reports from shoe maker Nike Inc., used car dealership chain CarMax Inc. and pharmacy operator Walgreen Co.

Markets will be closed on Friday in observance of Christmas.

The dollar gained 0.3 percent against an index of six heavily-traded currencies. Commodity prices rose 1.1 percent.

Rising and falling shares were even on the New York Stock Exchange. Consolidated volume came to 3.6 billion shares.

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Tuesday, numbers are large academic: analysts and shareholders had come to hear the Bolland strategy (although billion of ￡ capital expenditure additional Bolland plans to "invest" in the company appears to academic nothing given how M & S shareholders were invited to plow in the business for the past five years).

Despite a recent rally - that has added nearly 100 percent for the price of the shares - shares marks & Spencer have lower FTSE 100 last year, three and five years.

Its difficult to see Bolland reverse this record under-performance without radical action to reposition the food retail sector and to broaden the appeal of his clothes.

Whereas the M & E is "evolution" under Bolland the rest of the High street is evolving beyond all recognition.

Stage of Cadbury panto to run and run

The battle of Cadbury support rapidly escalated into a pantomime - with Irene Rosenfeld, U.S., President and Chief Executive as the villain and Roger Carr, President of Cadbury as courageous British loser.

Selling off the country outside a raider, chocolatier was apparently a step too far: whatever we have sold our airports to Espagnols.nos Dubai ports.and our nuclear power plants in the French.Cadbury bid sparked a national debate on takeovers by foreign companies.

The debate is intensified when Kraft reneged on his promise to reverse plan of Cadbury to close its plant in Somerdale.Cette decision prompted a review of the rules taken - and helped Rosenfled conversion as the witch méchant eastern coast).

Even third quarter commercial Kraft update published United States late Friday evening, suggests that the script was not straightforward.

Cadbury sales growth has fallen sharply in the third quarter to 0.1pc.Un result, claimed Kraft, "measures to normalize trade Cadbury inventories.The implication is clear: Cadbury customers were encouraged to stocks of submission that Cadbury desperately tried to present the best image possible.

His application rejected by the former leaders of Cadbury - which has now plusieurs.Les last year's figures were stimulated by the launch of the new gum Trident layers, they insist, while suggesting that Kraft is "kitchen sinking" the latest figures.

Unfortunately for Carr and his former colleagues, it is usually the winner gets to write the undertaking pantomime .this story might more to run.

Indifferent city the Yell Group vehemently

There is exactly one year Yell tapped its shareholders 660 m ￡, placing billion shares at 42 p.Comment is chaired by former Merrill Lynch investment banker Bob Wigley - directories - business and city councillors mark the first anniversary?

Yell reported a fall 12pc sales and warned that it was 'little signs of recovery' does ' isn't surprise, shares fell 20pc close to 12.4% - spent a bit of time all the.

Regards his advisors, Merrill (who shared a large part of the 85 million earnt from ￡ by bankers put last year) withdraw its recommendation to purchase, problem of profit forecasts and warned customers that there is now a media undertaking risk could violate its debt covenants.

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