Still, the major indexes posted losses for the week.

The Standard & Poor's 500-stock index posted a 14 percent gain last year, its best showing since 2003.

Also today, an index intended to predict the economy's course posted its first advance after three months of declines.

It is the third straight month the survey's index has posted an increase.

Still, for the first week of September, the index posted a gain of 2.6 percent.

For the first six months of the year, the index posted a return of 9.24 percent, the best first-half result since 1985.

In January 1987, the index posted gains on 13 straight days for an 11 percent gain.

For the first two months, the index has posted a return of 11.6 percent.

The stock exchange's composite index posted a rise of 4.8 percent, closing at 404.26 points.

In the first four months that year, the index posted increases averaging just over 2 percent.