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NEW YORK (MCT) — Stocks managed to finish with a slight gain Tuesday despite an after- noon stumble that thwart- ed the Dow Jones Indus- trial Average's attempt to break into positive terri- tory for 2010. Many investors avoid- ed big bets ahead of key data due later in the week, especially Friday's figures on U.S. employ- ment. The Dow Jones Indus- trial Average ended with a 2.2-point gain at 10,405.98, its gains held in check by a 1.9 percent decline in Microsoft Corp. shares. Fueling earlier gains, mergers lifted investor sentiment, and technolo- gy stocks were boosted by Qualcomm Inc.'s $3 billion stock buyback. The S&P 500 Index added 2.6 points, or 0.2 percent, to finish at 1,118.31. The Nasdaq Composite Index climbed 7.22 points, or 0.3 percent, to 2,280.79. At its intraday high, the Dow was up about 29 points for the year, its first push into positive year-to-date territory since January. However, the measure was hit by a wave of afternoon selling to end down 22 points for the year, with investors shying from technology and financials as the ses- sion wore on. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite are still higher for the year. Now that fourth-quar- ter earnings season is past, investors are focus- ing more on economic data and moves by gov- ernments world-wide to normalize economic and monetary policies fol- lowing the global finan- cial crisis. "People are still heavily favoring bonds over stocks, which shows you that there's still a lot of risk aver- sion out there," said strategist Joe Williams, of Commerce Trust. "I think it's going to come back to bite people when (the Fed) starts raising interest rates. But no one wants to hear that right now." 8B – Daily News – Wednesday, March 3, 2010 BR380 D BACK PACK BLOWER $ 349 95 Great for breaking up loose clumps of wet leaves and debris, this reduced emissions STIHL leaf blower features an easy grip throttle control with cruise control and a smaller tube diameter for higher air velocity. SG 20 MANUAL BACKPACK SPRAYER $ 119 95 The SG20 has a pressurized fluid reservoir separate from the main tank, so you can maintain constant pressure and refill without losing working pressure. MS 180 C-BE MiniBossTM $ 229 95 14" bar POLE PRUNERS HT 100 $ 449 95 HT 101 $ 599 95 HT 131 $ 649 95 All prices are PS-SRP. Available at participating dealers. © 2010 STIHL PAS9-1522-87145-11 440 Antelope Blvd. Suite 20, Red Bluff CA 96080 (530) 527-5200 • 1-800-532-BUGS (2847) Full Service Pest & Weed Control Serving Tehama County For 19 Years CA Lic. PR2526 OPR 9225 NO START UP FEE A "WIN" for you...A "WIN" for us. YOU WANT TO SAVE $$ We want new customers START YOUR PEST CONTROL SERVICE NOW THRU MARCH 15 AND SAVE $60 Stocks eke out small gain on mergers buzz Wall Street Auto sales better-than-expected U.S. February auto sales rose 13 percent over the same month last year. Automaker Totalsales Percent change U.S. market share Ford Motor Co. 142,28543 .3percent 18.2 percent General Motors 141,43812 .7percent 18.1 percent Toyota 100,027 -8.7percent 12.8 percent Chrysler 84,449 0.5 percent 10.8percent Honda 80,671 12.7percent 10.3 percent Nissan 70,189 29.4percent 9.0 percent Hyundai 34,004 11.0percent 4.4 percent Source: Autodata Corp.