News Alert: Nasdaq closes above 3,000; stocks close with biggest gains this year

	Tuesday, March 13, 2012 4:28:49 PM ECONOMY/BUSINESS NEWS ALERT Nasdaq closes above 3,000; stocks close with biggest gains this year Stocks rallied from the opening bell Tuesday after the government said February retail sales gains were the strongest since September. JPMorgan Chase gave the rally extra juice by announcing it would raise its stock dividend. Preliminary results show the Dow Jones industrial average closing up 220 points at 13,179. That's the highest close since the last day of 2007. The Nasdaq composite index is closing above 3,000 for the first time since December 2000. Read more at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/markets/us-stock-futures-rise-as-strong-february-retail-sales-help-boost-economic-optimism/2012/03/13/gIQAE2LP9R_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