Dow closes above 18,000 for first time

NEW YORK - The Dow Jones industrial average is breaking through another milestone, closing above 18,000 points for the first time following more encouraging news on the U.S. economy.<br /> <br /> The government reported early Tuesday that the economy grew at a rapid annual rate of 5 percent in the third quarter of the year, the fastest pace in more than a decade.<br /> <br /> It was the fifth straight gain as the market shakes off the last of an early-December slump. The Dow and the Standard & Poor's 500 index are at all-time highs.<br /> <br /> The Dow rose 64 points, or 0.4 percent, to 18,024.<br /> <br /> The S&P 500 rose three points, or 0.2 percent, to 2,082.<br /> <br /> The Nasdaq composite fell 16 points, or 0.3 percent, to 4,765.<br /> <br /> Energy stocks rose as the price of oil turned higher.<br />

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