Dow closes with gain despite slowdown

NEW YORK – The Dow Jones industrial average closed at an all-time high Wednesday as the good narrowly outweighed the bad for the stock market.

After investors took in some solid U.S. company earnings, the latest move from the Federal Reserve and a report of unexpectedly weak economic growth in the first quarter, the stock market managed its third straight day of gains.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 45.47 points, or 0.3 percent, to 16,580.84, four points above its previous record set on Dec. 31. It was the first day the index closed in positive territory for the year.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 index rose 5.62 points, or 0.3 percent, to 1,883.95. The Nasdaq composite rose 11.01 points, or 0.3 percent, to 4,114.56.

Stocks started the day lower after the Commerce Department said U.S. growth slowed to a barely discernible 0.1 percent annual rate in the January-March quarter, less than 1.1 percent forecast by economists, according to FactSet. Winter storms chilled activity.

The market’s reaction was muted because most investors expect the slowdown to be temporary and growth to rebound with warmer temperatures.

“Most people, including us, expected March to have been the strongest month of the first quarter” and that growth will continue to pick up, said Sean Lynch, global investment strategist for Wells Fargo Private Bank. “That’s an OK environment for the market.”

Some solid earnings reports and corporate deal news helped offset the weak economic report, and by midday stocks had eked out small gains.

Pepco Holdings surged $3.97, or 17.4 percent, to $26.76 after it agreed to be acquired by nuclear power company Exelon for $6.83 billion, creating a large electric and gas utility in the mid-Atlantic region. Exelon will pay an 18 percent premium to the company’s $23.10 closing price on Tuesday.

Stocks climbed higher in afternoon trading after the Fed’s statement following its April policy meeting was in line with investor’s expectations.