Indices ended well into the green zone Tuesday. The Dow closed above 13,000 for the first time since 2008. Technology brands led advancers. Apple hit an intraday all-time high on its iPad 3 announcement. The company will launch a new version of its tablet next week. Meanwhile, crude oil dipped for a second day, settling down $2.01 to $106.23 a barrel. On another note, consumer confidence is up this month. The Conference Board’s index exceeded expectations, climbing to a reading of 70.8 in February from 61.5 in January. Economists had expected a lesser increase to a reading of 63. Elsewhere, durable goods orders fell 4% in January, down from a 3.2% gain in December. Excluding transportation, new orders slipped 3.2%. Looking ahead, Staples and Costco are set to release earnings details tomorrow.
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