Wall Street closed higher on Thursday as crude prices rose and the Treasury bond auction eased concerns about government debt.Energy stocks rallies as crude oil rose $1.63 to close at $65.08 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, a six-month high.

On Thursday, the Dow Jones industrial average up 103.78 points, up 1.25 percent, to 8403.8. The Standard & Poor's 500 index was up 13.77 points, up 1.54 percent, to 906.83. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index gained 20.71 points,up 1.2 percent, to 1751.79.

Bank stocks closed mostly higher, with JPMorgan up 5.74 percent,Bank of America gained 3.57 percent ,PNC Financial Services Group Inc. gained $2.55, up 6.2 percent, to $43.66.Energy Stocks gained with ExxonMobil up 1.36 percent and Chevron up 1.92 percent as crude rose $1.63 to close at $65.08 a barrel after report that crude inventories were pared down.General Motors shares closed down 2.61 percent as they reached a debt-for-equity deal with bondholders but GM will still likely have to file for bankruptcy protection.

FTSE 100 index ended down 0.65 percent down 28.69 points to 4387.54,Germany's DAX closed down 1.36 percent down 67.89 points to 4932.88,France's CAC 40 down 0.95 percent down 31.16 points to 3263.7.

Dollar was mixed against other major currencies.Gold prices edged higher.Crude oil rose $1.63 to settle at $65.08 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.Gold gained to settle at $963 an ounce.
Thursday,28 May 2009