Dow Extends Streak to Seven The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed to a new 17-month high, logging its seventh straight daily gain. Stock Rally Is Form of Reverse Capitulation Vote: When will the Fed raise rates?

Medicines Up Despite Gunk Woe Small-capitalization stocks climbed, setting fresh 17-month highs, as renewed confidence in a low interest-rate environment fueled appetite for risk.

Alcoa, DuPont, Caterpillar Pace Dow Stocks climbed to a 17-month high as calmed inflation worries boosted sentiment toward economically sensitive stocks including Alcoa, DuPont and Caterpillar.

It looks like St. Patrick s day brought the luck o the Irish to the market: The Dow rose for a lucky seventh straight day as a renewed pledge from the Fed for low rates and a drop in inflation at the producer level helped fuel the market s momentum.

Among the shares expected to see active trade in Thursday s session are those of FedEx, Palm, Gamestop, and Ross Stores.

The financial sector is the second-biggest gainer on the Standard & Poor s 500 Wednesday, as upgrades for some insurers and a plan to repay government bailouts propelled stocks higher.

THE DOW CATCHES UP: The Dow Jones industrial average joined the Standard & Poor s 500 index and the Nasdaq composite index in reaching new highs for 2010. The indexes are at their best levels in about 18 months.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose Wednesday to close at a new high for 2010. It was the Dow s seventh straight advance. The gain means the Dow has joined the Standard & Poor s 500 index and Nasdaq composite index in reaching the best levels since 2008.

Stocks gained on Wednesday, pushing the Dow to a 17-month high, after a benign February inflation reading supported the Federal Reserve s renewed pledge of low interest rates.

Wall Street stocks continued their rally on Wednesday, rising on a quiet news day as investors took comfort from a range of positive economic and corporate data.