Stocks rise as analysts mull Obama's first steps to stem crisis

Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2009 12:01:10 -0500

Stocks rise as analysts mull Obama's first steps to stem crisis

Financials stocks steer a broad market comeback after the prior day's
rout that had the sector matching its worst day ever and the Dow Jones
Industrial Average tallying its worst Inaugural Day performance in its
history.

TREASURY NOMINEE GEITHNER PLEDGES TARP REFORM

Timothy Geithner, President Obama's nominee for the post of Treasury
Secretary, promises top-to-bottom reform of the government's financial
market rescue plan.

GM SAYS GLOBAL SALES DOWN 11% IN 2008; TOYOTA TAKES LEAD

General Motors Corp., after a seven-decade reign atop the automotive
heap, relinquishes its global sales crown to Toyota Motor Corp., as
growth in emerging markets can't overcome a sharp drop in North
America.

UNITED TECH'S FOURTH-QUARTER PROFIT EDGES UP 8% ON AEROSPACE

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- United Technologies Corp. said Wednesday its
fourth-quarter net income rose 8% as a robust aerospace market offset
a falloff in construction-related demand for its elevators, air
conditioning and building-security products.

FUTURES MOVERS: CRUDE-OIL FUTURES RISE ABOVE $41 A BARREL

Crude-oil futures rise above $41 a barrel early Wednesday, buoyed by
signs that the OPEC cartel is implementing cuts in its oil output.

HOUSING STILL HEADING FOR A BOTTOM, BUT SHOULD GET THERE IN '09

Housing will not look much better at the end of this year than it does
now, but "we do expect '09 will be the bottom," the chief economist
for the National Association of Home Builders said Tuesday.