Money | Dow Jones Dow Rallies, Closes Up 156 on Wave of Optimism Dow closes at highest level since October 2008 By Nick McMaster Posted Jan 4, 2010 3:16 PM CST Copied Traders watch market activity at the New York Stock Exchange, Monday, Jan. 4, 2010. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) Stocks rallied today off an upswing in manufacturing activity for December and Fed comments that reaffirmed the central bank's continued commitment to low interest rates, the Wall Street Journal reports. The Dow jumped 155.91 points to close at 10,583.96. The Nasdaq added 39.27, closing at 2,308.42. The S&P 500 gained 17.89, settling at 1,132.99. Read These Next North Carolina shooting suspect once walked the red carpet. The gunman who killed 4 at a Michigan church was an ex-marine. 'We heard a big bang,' says churchgoer in Michigan Skydivers leap from plane 2 minutes before fatal crash. Report an error