U.S. markets hold onto gains Wednesday

U.S. markets hold onto gains Wednesday

May 20, 2009 (United Press International) -- Early gains in U.S. stock markets settled appreciably by midday Wednesday, but equities remained in positive territory.

After a quick 80-point bounce, the Dow Jones industrial average eased back to a 20.15 point gain, 0.24 percent, to 8,495.00 in early afternoon trading. The Standard & Poor's (NYSE:MHP) 500 rose 0.43 percent, 3.91 points, to 912.04. The Nasdaq composite index added 6.21 points, 0.36 percent, to 1,740.75.

The benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury bond rose 3/32 to yield 3.234 percent.

The euro rose to $1.3784, compared to Tuesday's $1.3637. Against the Japanese yen, the dollar fell to 95.04 yen, compared to Tuesday's 96.04 yen.

In Tokyo, the Nikkei average gained 54.35 points to 9,344.64, up 0.59 percent.

In London, the FTSE index lost 13.84 points, 0.31 percent, to 4,468.41.