But trading was light and largely affected by technical factors, with traders squaring positions and setting strategies ahead of Friday's report on employment in September.

Traders said the broad-based buying ahead of today's more significant report on payrolls for October was also aided by a big drop in commodity prices.

But trading was subdued yesterday, with many market participants reluctant to make big bets ahead of the Government's report on April employment on Friday.

Investors were reluctant to buy ahead of the Government's report on producer prices.

A weak dollar and apprehension ahead of the Government's report on Friday on the gross domestic product helped to drag bond prices down.

Bond prices rose after the report's release, and the stock market closed higher ahead of today's much anticipated report on economic growth for the second quarter.

Some of yesterday's softness in prices was attributed to profit taking ahead of today's preliminary report on the gross domestic product for the first quarter.

Markets Stocks were mixed in cautious trading ahead of tomorrow's report on producer prices.

(He is in a quiet period now, ahead of Interpublic's planned report later this month of its fourth-quarter results.)

It means we've chosen the right direction, and that we'll reach Isstvan ahead of his assassins' report.