Business news for Mon, 24 Dec 2007 & with words dow+investors. 3 news.

The Dow industrials jumped by 98.68 points to 13549.33 in an abbreviated pre-holiday session, as financial stocks advanced on optimism that banks and brokerages can find fresh sources of capital, and investors hoped holiday sales will turn out to be stronger than anticipated.

BOSTON (MarketWatch) -- William Knapp, chief investment strategist for MainStay Investments, says investors should expect the economy to sidestep a recession in 2008, but noted that even if one occurs, "consumers will barely know it happened."

William Knapp, chief investment strategist for MainStay Investments, says investors should expect the market to sidestep a recession in 2008, but noted that even if once occurs, "consumers will barely know it happened." In a radio interview, Knapp said he expected large-cap growth to remain in favor for at least the first half of the new year, and said the Dow Jones Industrial Average will end 2008 at 15,000.