A Green Finish

Indices closed in the green zone Tuesday. Caterpillar, IBM and 3M led the upswing. Brands rallied back for the most part from Monday’s drop. News that the central bank plans to keep interest rates at near-zero levels through at least mid-2013 inspired volatile action. Additionally, the FOMC said it “now expects a somewhat slower pace of recovery over coming quarters than it did at the time of the previous meeting and anticipates that the unemployment rate will decline only gradually.” On another note, crude oil dipped $2.01 to settle at $79.30 a barrel. Disney posted quarterly data after the closing bell. Net income hit $1.48 billion, or 77 cents per share, up from $1.33 billion, or 67 cents, a year ago.

Disclosures:

All material presented is compiled from sources believed to be reliable and current, but accuracy cannot be guaranteed. The contents are intended for general information purposes only. Information provided should not be the sole basis in making any decisions and is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified professional, such as a tax consultant, insurance adviser or attorney. Although this material is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with respect to the subject matter, it may not apply in all situations. Readers are urged to consult with their adviser concerning specific situations and questions. This is not to be construed as an offer to buy or sell any financial instruments. It is not our intention to state, indicate or imply in any manner that current or past results are indicative of future profitability or expectations. As with all investments, there are associated inherent risks. Please obtain and review all financial material carefully before investing.