Aluminium giant spearheads Dow advance

Aluminium producer Alcoa advanced the most, adding 4.11% to $8.11, despite reporting a Q1 loss of $480m ($0.59 per share) last night. General Motors (GM) gained 3.4% to $2.07 following news GM and Chrysler have launched supplier support programmes backed by up to $5bn in US government funds. Elsewhere, DIY giant Home Depot rose more than 3% to $25.12 while construction firm Caterpillar advanced 2.48% to $30.18. JPMorgan Chase is the day's biggest loser so far, shedding 1.91% to $26.73, after the Bank of America cut earnings forecasts for the group. Bank of America has also seen its ...