AccessMyLibrary provides FREE access to over 30 million articles from top publications available through your library.
Create a link to this page
Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:
Byline: CHRISTINA WISE
A raft of positive economic news Friday helped the Nasdaq post a lead and, for a change, actually hang on to it. The composite index finished the day up 4.1%.
Semiconductor stocks were among the day's biggest winners. Photon Dynamics surged 4.24 to 45.56, stopping just short of its 52-week high. Chip equipment maker Cohu tried to recoup some of the previous two days' losses, adding 1.63 to 24.67. Despite their gains, both Photon and Cohu are still deep in the bases they began back in March 2000.
Possis Medical jumped 1.91 points, or 10.5%, to 20.11 as volume rose nearly sixfold. That left it free of the base it's been forming since mid-December. The firm, which makes medical devices that clear blood vessels, was featured in Friday's Stocks In The News column.
Associated Materials gained 1.93 to a new high of 46.83 on a fivefold increase in volume. The construction products maker has seen heavier-than-usual trading activity since it blew past earnings estimates Feb. 19.
New Century Financial notched its sixth straight win, soaring 1.29 to a new 52-week high of 17.14. The finance company ...