U.S. markets hold on to gains

NEW YORK, July 6 (UPI) -- U.S. markets clung to early gains Tuesday as the Agricultural Bank of China raised more than $19 billion in its initial public offering.

After an early burst of buying, gains melted away, as the Dow Jones industrial average rose to 9,841.63 early, up 152 points, before losing ground.

Most Dow components were still ahead at the close, but shares of Home Depot Inc. fell 1.51 percent, while Verizon Communications shares dropped 0.75 percent.

Twenty-two of the Dow's components rose, snapping a seven-session losing streak for the index. At the top of the list was Microsoft Corp., up 2.36 percent, and Alcoa Inc., up 2.1 percent.

Investors were buoyed by positive numbers in stocks in Asia and Europe. Known as AgBank, the last large bank in China to go public, meanwhile, raised at least $19.2 billion in one of the largest IPOs on record.

By close in New York, the Dow Jones industrial average gained 57.14 points, 0.59 percent, to 9,743.62. The Standard & Poor's 500 index added 5.48 or 0.54 percent to 1,028.06. The Nasdaq composite index rose 0.1 percent, 2.09 points, to 2,093.88.

On the New York Stock Exchange, 1,488 stocks advanced and 1,532 declined on a volume of 4.6 billion shares traded.

The benchmark 10-year treasury note gained 12/32 to yield 2.936 percent.

The euro rose to $1.2624 from Friday's $1.254. Against the yen, the dollar fell to 87.55 yen from Friday's 87.74 yen.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 index rose 0.77 percent, 71.26, to 9,338.04.

In Britain, the FTSE 100 index added 2.93 percent, 141.47, to 4,965.00.