The Dow Adds 8 Points, Nasdaq Gains 8

The Dow added 7.84 points today to close at 11,334.96, the Nasdaq gained 8.07 points to close at 2,157.61 and the S&P 500 added 2.05 points to close at 1,297.48. The markets continued higher for a fourth straight day. Positive economic data, cooling tensions in the Middle East, and a drop in oil prices gave investors more hope for a modest slowdown in economic growth. However, mixed data from large retailers will have traders looking at earnings reports tomorrow before the open. A barrel of oil fell $1.83 to $70.06.

Volume was modest with 1.57 billion shares trading on the NYSE and 1.98 billion on the Nasdaq. Advancers topped decliners by a margin of 18:15 on the NYSE and 18:12 on the Nasdaq.

In individual stories, Salesforce.com (NYSE: CRM) closed 19% higher after reporting Q2 EPS of $0.06, 2 cents better than estimates.(0.04) Revenues were $118.14 million vs. $114.28 million consensus. Sees Q3 EPS of $0.04-$0.05, ex-items, versus the consensus of $0.05. Sees FY EPS of $0.19-$0.21, ex-items, ($0.20-$0.22 ex-stock exp) versus the consensus of $0.20. SIRVA Inc. (NYSE: SIR) fell 38% after announcing a separation agreement with Robert J. Rosing, SIRVA's former President, Global Relocation Operations, restated receivables sales agreement and an amendment to it's credit agreement.

Tomorrow traders will be looking for economic data on University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment. Investors will be looking for earnings from AnnTaylor (NYSE: ANN), Foot Locker, Inc. (NYSE: FL), J.M. Smucker (NYSE: SJM) and Wet Seal (Nasdaq: WTSLA).

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