Tech Gains; Dow Up 96

Investors looked past bad news on home construction to signs of economic stabilization and drove broad advances in stocks today, the Wall Street Journal reports. HP rose 5.3% on reports that it’s the top computer seller. Nokia rocketed 11.5% on signs the cell-phone market was picking up again. The Dow closed up 95.81 at 8,125.43. The Nasdaq rose 43.64, to 1,670.44, and the S&P 500 gained 13.24, settling at 865.30. (More Dow Jones stories.)