(AP) - Stocks closed mostly higher today after waffling for much of the session.
The Dow Jones industrial average finished with a gain of 29 points at 12,829. Advancing issues on the New York Stock Exchange led losers 9-7 on volume of about 4 billion shares. The Nasdaq composite index was down 5 points at the 2,499 level, with roughly 2.5 billion shares traded. And the S&P 500 added 4 points, closing at 1,416.
Today's gains followed last week's disastrous showing in which the Dow lost more than 4 percent.
Analysts say investors have grown more optimistic about a rate cut at the Fed meeting later this month after last week's disappointing reports on jobs and manufacturing pointed to a slowing in the economy last month.
The market will be looking for clues about the central bank's stance when Chairman Ben Bernanke delivers a speech on Thursday.
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