Holiday Mood Lifts Stocks' Spirit

December can bring to mind images of snowy landscapes, gift-giving and, for many, decorating the Christmas tree. On Wall Street, however, it's the windows that get decorated.

The big rally that greeted investors Thursday is an indication that market players are expecting money managers to pile into strong-performing stocks to prop up their portfolios (and their bonuses) before Dec 31. In other words, window-dressing.

Regardless of the catalyst, it was an impressive day for stocks after three days of losses to start the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 106.70 points, or 0.9%, to 10,912.57. The S&P 500 advanced 15.19 points, or 1.22%, to 1264.67. The Nasdaq Composite jumped 1.54% to 2267.17. ...