Afternoon Markets: Dow still buoyed by Bernanke hopes

Wall Street continues to be buoyed by comments yesterday from Fed chairman Ben Bernanke indicating the recession in the US could be over.

The comments, along with an announcement from the US Labor Department inflation had risen 0.4% in August, has helped push the Dow Jones up 40.28 points (0.42%) at 9,723.69 points by 10:50am EST. Banks have been early winners with Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase and American Express all adding over 2%. However, General Electric is currently in the top spot with its share price having now risen enough to erase losses for the year. Shares in the firm had suffered amid concerns financial arm, GE Capital, was harbouring huge losses during the financial crisis which could potentially dr...