Consumer Confidence Edges Up, Markets Extend Gains

Consumer confidence edged up while crude oil prices retreated to boost the markets higher during the midday with the Dow soaring 132 points to 7654.  Nasdaq surged 35 points to 1537.

On the upside

Fifth Third Bancorp (Nasdaq: FITB) made an initial $42.6 million in dividend payments to the Treasury Department.

ProLogis (NYSE: PLD) subsidiary PLD International Finance announced a cash tender offer to holders of up to EUR175,000,000 Notes.

China Direct (Nasdaq: CDII) reported higher full year income.

On the downside

Allos Therapeutics (Nasdaq: ALTH) priced its public offering of approximately 7.75 million shares.

Teradyne (NYSE: TER) announced plans to issue $150 million in senior convertible notes.

Falling home prices weighed down shares of Beazer Homes (NYSE: BZH).

In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of more than 3 to 1 on the NYSE and by more than 2 to 1 on Nasdaq.  The Russell 2000 which tracks small cap stocks climbed 6 points to 422.