S&P 500 Scored Record Close

U. S. stocks ended slightly higher on Monday as investors awaited more clues from the Federal
Reserve on whether the central bank will soon begin to wind down its economic stimulus. The S&P
500 rose 3.28 points, or 0.18%, to 1,808.37, scoring a new closing high. The Dow Jones Industrial
Average gained 5.33 points, or 0.03%, to close at 16,025.53. The Nasdaq Composite advanced 6.23
points, or 0.15%, to 4,068.75.

Americans’ wealth reached an all-time high this summer, buoyed by record-setting stock prices and
a healthy recovery in home values. The Federal Reserve said Monday that U.S. net worth, a measure
of household wealth, rose 2.6 percent to $77.3 trillion from July through September.

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard, a voter on policy this year, said the
odds of tapering bond purchases have risen along with gains in the labor market, and any reduction
should be modest to account for low inflation.

American Airlines emerged from bankruptcy protection and US Airways culminated its long pursuit of
a merger partner as the two completed their deal Monday to create the world’s biggest airline.