Stocks approach recent highs

Renewed investor optimism put the major indexes within striking distance of historic highs Wednesday. Thanks largely to a Federal Reserve interest-rate cut, the major market indexes have nearly recovered all of the ground they lost during the last few weeks, which was mainly due to the credit-market woes. Crude-oil prices went up 77 cents today to $80.30 a barrel, halting a three-day losing streak. DJIA +99.50 Nasdaq +15.58 S&P 500 +8.21