Bulls Go Wire to Wire

Investors can trade for only four days this week because of the Good Friday holiday April 6. Trading will resume April 9, a day before Dow component Alcoa (AA Quote) unofficially kicks off the first-quarter earnings reporting season.

As for equities, U.S. automakers were in focus after posting car and truck sales for March. Ford (F Quote) said sales dropped 9% last month, while DaimlerChrysler (DCX Quote) reported a 4% decline in sales during March. Shares of Ford dipped 0.1% to $8.08, and DaimlerChrysler fell 1.3% to $82.95.

General Motors (GM Quote) said March sales fell 7.7% on a day-rate selling day basis to 349,867 vehicles. GM closed higher by 64 cents, or 2.1%, to $31.47.

Following the prior close, Accredited Home Lenders (LEND Quote) said it has opened a $500 million credit line with a large commercial bank. The subprime mortgage lender also said it renewed a $600 million borrowing arrangement with an investment bank. Accredited gained $1.56, or 18.4%, to finish at $10.04.

Accredited's news came on the same day that embattled rival New Century Financial (NEWC Quote) filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. New Century also laid off about 3,200 employees. Shares added 10 cents, or 10.4%, to $1.01.

Internet auction site eBay (EBAY Quote) finished higher after Bear Stearns raised its first-quarter earnings and revenue targets for the company, citing better conversion rates and higher average selling prices. The stock ended the day up 80 cents, or 2.4%, at $33.80.