Wall St advances on overseas factory data, stimulus

By Edward Krudy

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Dow industrials and the S&P 500 index made new yearly highs on Wednesday after data showed China industrial output surged and Federal Reserve officials hinted money would remain cheap well into 2010.

But stocks were off their morning highs as the U.S. dollar reversed course and rose against a basket of currencies after hitting a 15-month low. The turnaround weighed on dollar-denominated commodities and natural resource stocks that had been among top gainers.

Chinese factory output rose to a 19-month high in October, sparking a wave of buying in commodities as investors bet the data was a herald of growing demand in the world's third-largest economy.

Shares in Nucor Corp, a big U.S. steel producer, rose 2.7 percent to $41.84, while the Dow Jones iron and steel index rose 2.4 percent.

Comments from top Fed officials that the U.S. recovery would be bumpy underscored the view that interest rates will stay low and economic stimulus will remain intact, a boon for the stock market in the short-term.

"In addition to the economic data showing that things are getting better you also have seemingly all the policy makers in the world on a coordinated basis trying to keep this recovery going," said Eric Kuby, chief investment officer at North Star Investment Management Corp in Chicago.

The S&P 500 has risen for seven of the last eight days at a time when the U.S. unemployment rate has jumped to more than 10 percent.

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 29.93 points, or 0.29 percent, to 10,276.90. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index rose 4.00 points, or 0.37 percent, to 1,097.01. The Nasdaq Composite Index added 10.98 points, or 0.51 percent, to 2,162.06.