Dow average holds on to 15,000 with a small gain

5/8/2013

NEW YORK — The Dow Jones industrial average stayed above 15,000 a day after it closed above the landmark level for the first time.

With no major economic releases due out today, investors focused on company earnings as reporting for the first quarter draws to a close.

Whole Foods and Electronic Arts rose sharply after the companies predicted higher profits. AOL plunged after its profit came up short of what analysts were looking for.

The Dow rose 48 points to 15,105, a gain of 0.3 percent.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 index rose six points to 1,632, an increase of 0.4 percent. The Nasdaq composite rose 16 points to 3,413, or 0.5 percent.

Two stocks rose for every one that fell on the New York Stock Exchange. Volume was average at 3.5 billion shares.