NEW YORK — The Dow Jones industrial average jumped in January, logging its best start to a year in almost two decades.
Stocks rallied in the first week of the year after U.S. lawmakers reached a deal to avoid the “fiscal cliff,” and then pushed higher toward record levels as optimism about the housing market recovery grew. Decent company earnings for the fourth quarter and an improving job market also helped lift markets.
The Dow Jones industrial average ended the month up 5.8 percent, its strongest January since 1994, according to S&P Capital IQ data. The Standard & Poor’s 500 finished the month 5 percent higher, its best start to the year since 1997.
“There’s not a whole lot of bears left here,” said Jeff Hirsch, the editor of the Stock Trader’s Almanac, adding that the market may struggle to gain further in February.
Stocks have also benefited as investors have put money into equities in January. By one measure, the monthly flow into stock funds was the largest in nine years.
About $51 billion in net deposits moved into stock funds and so-called hybrid funds, which invest in a mix of stocks and bonds, consultant Strategic Insight said Thursday. That’s the most since $56 billion in January 2004.
On Thursday, stocks drifted lower as investors digested more earnings results and reports on the economy.
The Dow Jones industrial average fell 49.84 points to 13,860.58. The S&P 500 dropped 3.85 points to 1,498.11 and the Nasdaq composite was little changed at 3,142.13.
Advancing stocks on the New York Stock Exchange outpaced declining ones. Consolidated volume was an above-average 3.9 billion shares.
The Dow is just 304 points from its all-time high.
January’s rally started to slow Wednesday after a report showed that the economy unexpectedly contracted in the fourth quarter of last year.
More government reports Thursday also gave investors a better picture of the health of the economy.
The number of Americans seeking unemployment aid rose sharply last week but remained at a level consistent with moderate hiring.
Investors will look for further clues about the strength of the jobs market today, when the closely followed monthly nonfarm payrolls report is published.
The yield on the 10-year Treasury note, which moves inversely to its price, was little changed at 1.99 percent.
Among other stocks making big moves:
Under Armour gained $2.74, or 5.7 percent, to $50.87, after the company said its fourth-quarter earnings jumped 10 percent and the clothing company predicted revenue growth of at least 20 percent in each of the next two years.
CononcoPhillips fell $3.09, or 5.1 percent, to $58 after the oil company said earnings fell as prices for oil and natural gas declined. The Houston based company also said 2013 production would decline.
JDS Uniphase added $2.11, or 17 percent, to $14.51 after the technology company reported stronger-than-expected earnings on improved revenue and margins late Wednesday.
Qualcomm Inc., a maker of chips for mobile devices, rose 3.9 percent to $66.02 after it said late Wednesday that its earnings surged. Its revenue was boosted by growing global demand for smart phones.
Business, Pages 30 on 02/01/2013