TSC 21: Continental, Maytag Pace Gains

TheStreet.com 21 got a lift from its airline, retail and appliance components Thursday and closed higher, although the gain trailed that of the broader markets.

The index, designed to peg the future direction of the economy, ended up 3.81 points, or 0.36%, to 1058.77, leaving it about 5.9% above its July 3 open at 1000. The

Dow Jones Industrial Average

finished the day up 40 points, or 0.4%, to 9374, while the

Nasdaq

jumped 18 points, or 1%, to 1800.

Sixteen of the index's 21 components rose, most in the absence of any obvious news catalyst.

Maytag

(MYG)

had the biggest percentage gain, running up $1.30, or 5.1%, to $26.88.

Continental

(CAL) - Get Report

was the next biggest gainer, rising 60 cents, or 4.2%, to $14.75, while

Kohl's

(KSS) - Get Report

rose $1.85, or 3%, to $63.60.

Level 3 Communications

(LVLT)

continued to be one of the index's significant drags, falling 6 cents, or 1.3%, to $4.45. The telecom turnaround play has fallen steadily since the index's inauguration on July 3, when it stood at $5.94.

General Electric

(GE) - Get Report

, the index's main industrial conglomerate, also fell Thursday, dropping 7 cents, or 0.2%, to $29.68. The stock is up about a dollar since July 3.

Among the other stocks in the index rising,

Smurfit Stone Container

(SSCC)

rose 44 cents, or 2.8%, to $15.97, and

Tiffany

(TIF) - Get Report

fell 56 cents, or 1.5%, to $38.41.