Stockhouse @ the Bell: Dow closes above 13,000

Today on Stockhouse

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Stockhouse reports on one analyst who sees a bright future for Ridgeline Energy.

While Porter Stansberry of DailyWealth explains how and why China came to dominate the gold market.

Top Bullboards post: “Another positive event on the near-term horizon is the commissioning of the Jal site. Assuming they structured Jal similar to the way they did the one up in the Horn River they stand to get a couple million $$ upon the site's commissioning. The cash from that plus hopefully some more warrant exercises should be enough to get them through to the late spring before needing more money. Once the Jal site has been commissioned we can start to expect a multi-unit order from EOG. It will be interesting to see where the stock goes once that news gets announced.” From ajootian on Ridge Line Energy Services (TSX: V.RLE, Stock Forum) board.

Top Bullboard: Encanto Potash (TSX: V.EPO, Stock Forum) gathered the second-most posts and third-most reads.

Top blog:LexLuthor2 believes good news could be around the corner for this energy junior in the Lex Corp News Letter blog.

For news about small stocks that made big moves Tuesday’s trading, please read the Stockhouse Canadian Small and Micro-cap Stock Report.

Word on Wall Street

"Two months ago, we were talking about a double-dip recession; now consumer confidence is growing," said Ryan Detrick, senior technical strategist with Schaeffer's Investment Research, in an interview with Associated Press. "A major milestone like 13,000 wakes up a lot of investors who have missed a lot of this rally."

Today In The Markets

TSX advances amid strong U.S. consumer confidence data, BMO earnings

DJIA	13,005.12	+23.61
NASDAQ	2,986.76	+20.60
S&P500	1,372.18	+4.59
S&P/TSX	12,740.47	+40.09
S&P/TSX Venture	1,693.19	+13.69

TORONTO-NEW YORK (The Canadian Press) - The Toronto stock market closed higher Tuesday amid mixed economic data from the U.S. while New York's Dow Jones industrials closed above the 13,000 mark for the first time since May, 2008.

The blue-chip barometer closed up 23.61 points to 13,005.12, finding lift from a much better than expected reading on consumer confidence.

The S&P/TSX composite index rose 40.1 points to 12,740.47 also finding lift from financials after Bank of Montreal (TSX: T.BMO, Stock Forum) handed in earnings that beat expectations.

The TSX Venture Exchange gained 13.69 points to 1,693.19.

U.S. markets advanced after data showed that U.S. consumer confidence in February rose dramatically to the highest level since a year ago.

The Nasdaq composite index was 20.6 points higher to 2,986.76 while the S&P 500 index gained 4.59 points to 1,372.18.

Please click here for the complete U.S. and Canadian market summaries.

After-Hours News

DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. (NASDAQ: DWA, Stock Forum)
DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc.announced financial results for its fourth quarter ended December 31, 2011. In the quarter, the company reported total revenue of $219.0 million and net income of $24.3 million, or $0.29 per share on a fully diluted basis. Profit in the fourth quarter was down 71% from $85.2 million or 99 cents a year earlier, when the company posted revenue of $275.7 million. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2011, the company reported total revenue of $706.0 million and net income of $86.8 million, or $1.02 per share on a fully diluted basis.

Aurion Resources Ltd. (TSX: V.AU, Stock Forum)
Aurion Resources Ltd. said it has increased the size of its previously announced non-brokered private placement, to 8,571,428 million units at a price of CDN$0.35 per unit to raise aggregate gross proceeds of CDN$3,000,000. Each unit will consist of one common share of Aurion and one full share purchase warrant of Aurion. Each whole share purchase warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one additional common share of Aurion at an exercise price of CDN$0.45 cents per share for three years. Aurion can elect to accelerate the exercise of the warrants if Aurion's volume-weighted average share price is at or above CDN$0.70 per share, based on the preceding 20 day closing share price. Finder fees may be paid pursuant to this financing.