Stocks Manage Meager Gains

Stock futures pointed higher this morning as an astonishing durable goods increase was reported this morning.  If the aircraft purchases were not included, however, the results would have been humdrum.  The Case Shiller report on home prices showed an increase of 8.5% year over year in 20 major U.S. markets.  The Dow closed up 29 points after having been up almost 80 during the day.