U.S. Stocks Advance; Dow Average Climbs Above Record Close as Alcoa Gains

(Bloomberg) -- U.S. stocks gained for a second day
after Wal-Mart Stores Inc. reported sales that topped its
forecast and investors speculated Alcoa Inc. may be taken over.

Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, and Alcoa, the
second-biggest aluminum producer, led the Dow Jones Industrial
Average to a record. J.C. Penney Co., the third-largest
department-store chain, advanced after June sales exceeded
analysts' estimates.


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