Dow steady as economic recovery hopes climb

General Electric was the biggest winner, rising 1.27% to $11.61 ahead of its second-quarter earnings, scheduled to be reported Friday. Chevron also rose 0.62% to 62.83. Travelers Company was the biggest loser, dropping 1.98% to 39.60 and American Express dropped 1.67% to 24.11. The FTSE 100 index continued to rise this afternoon buoyed by rising metal prices, up 0.69% to 4231.19 points. Miners rallied after a slip yesterday with silver miner Fresnillo leading the pack with a gain of 12.33% taking its share price to £5.28 following on from an improving outlook for silver. The mi...