A Green Finish

Stocks posted gains on Monday. Bank of America, Home Depot, McDonald’s and JPMorgan Chase led the way up on the Dow. Brands climbed amid news of budget talks progress in Washington. Meanwhile, Apple stepped up on news of substantial iPhone sales in China. The company said it sold more than two million iPhone 5s in the first three days of its availability in the country. Additionally, Citigroup downgraded its rating on the iPhone innovator to neutral from buy, citing concerns about the strength of iPhone 5. On another note, crude oil tacked on 47 cents today to close at $87.20 a barrel.

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