U.S. stocks rally to start 2012

 　　NEW YORK, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. stocks rallied on Tuesday, the first trading day of 2012, as investors¹ welcomed a batch² of upbeat economic data.

　　The Dow Jones industrial average gained 179.82 points, or 1.47 percent, to 12,397.38. The Standard & Poor's 500 was up 19.46 points, or 1.55 percent, to 1,277.06. The Nasdaq Composite Index rose 43.57 points, or 1.67 percent, to 2,648.72.

　　With no more bad news coming from Europe, investors finally focused on the latest batch of data, showing the economic recovery was picking up speed in the world's largest economy.

　　According to the Commerce Department, construction spending increased 1.2 percent in Nov. and reached the highest level since June 2010.

　　The Institute for Supply Management said the U.S. manufacturing sector³ expanded at a swifter pace. The ISM PMI rose to 53.9 in Dec. from 52.7 in November, topping estimates of 53.2.

　　Meanwhile, the minute of the Federal Reserve's monetary⁴ policy meeting in December showed that officials will begin disclosing more details about their interest rate forecasts, which was also positive to stocks.

　　Adding to the cheer, data from China and India showed their manufacturing sectors⁵ were improving in the last month of 2011, easing concerns for a prominent economic slowdown in major developing countries.

　　A report from HSBC showed the Purchasing Managers'Index in India rose to 54.2, the most in six months, from 51 in November, while in China, the index unexpectedly jumped from 49 to 50.3.

　　Not only equities⁶ started the new year with big wins, commodities also shot up as investors start the new year with a fresh round of trading.

　　Oil prices rose and surpassed 100 dollars a barrel on Tuesday as better-than-expected economic data spurred optimism of increased demand and geopolitical worry surrounding Iran raised concern about supply.

　　Light, sweet crude for Feb. delivery rose 4.13 dollars, or 4.2 percent to settle at 102.96 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

　　Gold futures⁷ rebounded⁸ from a weak Dec. and settled above 1,600 dollars an ounce after traded as high as 1,608.70 dollar an ounce.

1 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

2 batch   

n.一批(组，群)；一批生产量

参考例句：

• The first batch of cakes was burnt.第一炉蛋糕烤焦了。
• I have a batch of letters to answer.我有一批信要回复。

3 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

4 monetary   

adj.货币的，钱的；通货的；金融的；财政的

参考例句：

• The monetary system of some countries used to be based on gold.过去有些国家的货币制度是金本位制的。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。

5 sectors   

n.部门( sector的名词复数 )；领域；防御地区；扇形

参考例句：

• Berlin was divided into four sectors after the war. 战后柏林分成了4 个区。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Industry and agriculture are the two important sectors of the national economy. 工业和农业是国民经济的两个重要部门。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 equities   

普通股，股票

参考例句：

• These are invested mainly in the OECD bonds and equities. 这些资产主要投资于经济合作及发展组织的债券与股票市场。
• They are also advantage of the global rebound in equities. 它们还在利用全球股市反弹的机会。

7 futures   

n.期货，期货交易

参考例句：

• He continued his operations in cotton futures.他继续进行棉花期货交易。
• Cotton futures are selling at high prices.棉花期货交易的卖价是很高的。

8 rebounded   

弹回( rebound的过去式和过去分词 )； 反弹； 产生反作用； 未能奏效

参考例句：

• The ball rebounded from the goalpost and Owen headed it in. 球从门柱弹回，欧文头球将球攻进。
• The ball rebounded from his racket into the net. 球从他的球拍上弹回网中。