Stocks logged a healthy 1% gain on Monday after news spread that US House Speaker John Boehner proposed a fiscal plan that included a tax rate increase, a first for the Republican side during the fiscal cliff discussions. Th Dow added an additional 100+ points on Tuesday, as further progress in fiscal cliff talks were made. On Wednesday the market gave back most of Tuesday’s gains when fiscal cliff talks stalled, as President Obama indicated he would veto Boehner’s “Plan B” that would raise taxes only on households earning more than $1 million. The major indexes experienced moderate gain on Thursday on positive economic news on several fronts. Third quarter GDP was revised up to 3.1%, November existing home sales rose more than expected, and the Philly Fed index of business activity increased much more than expected. Fiscal cliff concerns returned on Friday as a last-minute deal has not yet been struck by Washington. The Dow dropped 120 points as a result.
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