Money / Dow Jones Dow Up 66 as Consumer Optimism Lifts Stocks Retail sales beat expectations in November By Nick McMaster, Newser Staff Posted Dec 11, 2009 3:16 PM CST Copied David O'Day, center, and fellow traders gather at the post on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange that handles CIT Group, Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) Stocks ended today's session mixed, with the Dow posting solid gains. Alcoa saw a. 8% jump on an optimistic profit estimate by JPMorgan, and the University of Michigan/Reuters December consumer sentiment index beat expectations, the Wall Street Journal reports. The Dow rose 65.67 points to close at 10,471.50. The Nasdaq fell 0.55, settling at 2,190.51. The S&P 500 gained 4.06, closing at 1,106.41. (More Dow Jones stories.) Report an error