Ray of light: Leading Economic Indicators rise for second straight month

O.K. so it's not as important (or life-impacting) as an announcement of, for example, a breakthrough energy technology, but in this market and economy, investors will take it.

The Index of Leading Economic Indicators rose 0.4% in January -- the index's second consecutive monthly increase -- boosted by a large increase in the nation's money supply, the Conference Board announced Thursday. The LEI increased a revised 0.3% in December 2008.

Economists surveyed by Bloomberg News had expected the index to remain flat in January.