Thursday

Blue-chip stocks clocked their eighth straight day of gains as industrials climbed on a brightening manufacturing outlook. Today's close brought the Dow Jones Industrial Average to a new 17-month high. The gains have been modest but steady, leaving the index up 2.15% over the past eight sessions. Also helping stocks were reports that showed consumer prices last month were flat in February and that initial jobless claims declined last week. Financial stocks were a weak spot today due to concerns over the financial regulatory overhaul proposal winding through Congress. DJIA +45.50 Nasdaq +2.19 S&P 500 -.38.