Dow, S&P 500 end at record highs

[okaawhatever]

(Reuters) - The Dow and the S&P 500 ended at record highs on Monday while the Nasdaq rallied as shares of Internet and biotech shares advanced.

The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI gained 112.13 points or 0.68 percent, to 16,695.47, a record closing high. The Dow also hit an intraday record high of 16,704.84.

The S&P 500 .SPX rose 18.17 points or 0.97 percent, to 1,896.65, also a record closing high. The Nasdaq Composite .IXIC climbed 71.99 points or 1.77 percent, to 4,143.859.

The rally came despite a vote by pro-Russian rebels in favor of self-rule in eastern regions of the country in a referendum dismissed by Kiev and Western governments as illegal. The European Union is set to step up pressure on Russia by taking steps to extend sanctions to companies, as well as individuals.

U.S.-listed shares of Indian companies and India-related exchange-traded funds also rose as exit polls in India predicted that the country's main opposition party - viewed as more business friendly - would win general elections. Among ETFs, the Wisdom Tree India Earnings Fund (EPI.P) gained 3.7 percent.

More at Link:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/12/us-markets-stocks-idUSBREA460FR20140512
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It's getting better folks. Unemployment is down, deficit is down, stock market is up if the transportation bill passes (the big one) we could see some real change in the unemployment rate. Once we get unemployment lower wages will start to go up. Yeah! Slowly but surely.

[eridani]

1. Wages have been falling as the stock market has been rising.

That's just peachy keen for the 1% and shitty for everyone else. The only thing that will gwet wages to rise is forceful political action by the 99%.

[okaawhatever]

2. The truth is the thing that will get wages to rise is lower unemployment. Supply and demand. What

will make that happen is a different question. Unemployment has steadily been heading down for several quarters. Problem is, it isn't low enough where workers can start demanding higher wages and get them because the business can't find a replacement worker.

[eridani]

3. The other thing is that the official unemployment rate has nothing to do with

--the actual unimployment rate. Labor force participation is at an all-time low, because older workers laid off from real jobs can't get hired, and so take early Social Security. Your trust in the 1% is touchingly naive.

[okaawhatever]

4. Ha, it's not my trust in the 1% it's my understanding of economics. You are naive one. The

reason for the low workforce participation rate is the aging baby boomer generation. Did you also notice that last month Social Security was up 5%? You can keep harping on that right wing labor force participation canard or you can learn more about the fundamentals. Do you know how workforce participation is calculated?

[eridani]

5. Social Security is SUPPOSED to be up

That was why we prepaid our own retirement with the trust fund surplus, which is SUPPPOSED to disappear. The fundamentals of politics dictate that economics can be pushed. For details, google New Deal.

[okaawhatever]

8. I should have been more clear. Social Security is up because more people have retired. When

people retire they reduce the labor force participation rate. A decrease in the participation rate is normal when accompanied by an increase in SS because it just means people are retiring. This will continue to be the trend for another few years until the baby boomers are no longer part of the calculation.

[Fumesucker]

6. Mark Knopfler wants you to know that even millionaires get the blues

You gotta suffer if you want to sing the blues.

[1000words]

7. Surely, all is well.

Go Team!