Economy/Business News Alert: U.S. stocks have best day this month

	Tuesday, December 20, 2011 4:35:46 PM ECONOMY/BUSINESS NEWS ALERT U.S. stocks have best day this month The Dow Jones industrial average surged 337 points following encouraging signs out of Europe and a jump in apartment construction in the U.S. It was the best day for U.S. stocks this month. The Dow gained 2.9 percent to close at 12,103. Caterpillar jumped 5 percent, the most in the Dow. The S&P 500 index rose 36 points, or 3 percent, to 1,241. Only six stocks in the index fell. The Nasdaq composite index rose 81, or 3.2 percent, to 2,604. Read more at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/markets/us-stocks-poised-for-higher-open-as-encouraging-signs-from-europe-offers-some-relief/2011/12/20/gIQAYKRo6O_story.html Or visit PostBusiness.com. SEND TO A FRIEND UNSUBSCRIBE E-MAIL CENTER GET HELP Washington Post Digital E-mail Customer Care 1150 15th Street NW Washington, D.C. 20071 ©2011 The Washington Post Privacy Policy