Brands Rise

Monday’s session ended with gains. Home Depot and Hewlett-Packard led the Dow’s ascent. Stocks stepped up following words of reassurance from a European Central Bank council member. Speaking at a conference in Lucerne, Switzerland, Jürgen Stark said that the eurozone crisis would be brought under control within two years. Brands rebounded from earlier lows to close in positive territory. In earnings news, Sysco Corp.’s net income increased by 1.2 percent in its fiscal first quarter. Earnings hit $302.7 million, or 51 cents a share, up from $299 million, or 51 cents, a year ago. Elsewhere, crude oil climbed $1.26 to settle at $95.52 a barrel. 

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