The Dow and Apple Fuel Today's Market Surge

U.S. stock markets finally regained their sense of optimism today, as broad markets ended up higher across the board. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDEX: ^DJI) added 135 points, notching a cool 1.1% during the trading session. Putting the Dow to shame, the S&P 500 and tech-weighted Nasdaq rallied 1.6% and 2.5%, respectively. Perhaps in the most telling sign, the market's so-called "fear gauge," or the VIX (INDEX: ^VIX) , plummeted 12.3% today, signaling that investors shed many of their concerns that weighed so heavily throughout last week.

Around the markets
Some of today's most intriguing storylines came out of the tech sector. Apple (NAS: AAPL) skyrocketed today, helping to dispel investors' fears that the tech giant's momentum had all but run out after an extremely strong last six months that saw its jump nearly 50%. On the flipside, investors in social-networking darling Facebook are probably licking their wounds. Coming off an IPO performance last Friday that would be generously described as lackluster, Facebook fell off a cliff today, plummeting around 11%.

And while we're on the topic of massive swings, two nat-gas plays also made waves today. Both Westport Innovations (NAS: WPRT) and Clean Energy Fuels (NAS: CLNE) spiked substantially higher during today's trading session. News came from European automaker Volvo that it will begin using Westport's 13-liter engines in some of its heavy-duty trucks. Clean Energy's pop came without a clear catalyst. However, seeing both stocks surging so grandly today does highlight the central theme many investors have for buying into natural gas investments: The stuff's downright cheap. And with oil prices looking less than-cheap, investors are hoping producers could shift their purchasing in favor of nat gas.

What it all means
Days like today make investors everywhere look smart. However, investors always need to keep monitor the potential risks facing their portfolios. With plenty of uncertainty still surrounding the health of the world economy (hello, Greece), investors need to make sure their holdings are safe and hold plenty of upside. The Fool recently covered nine stocks that pay rock-solid dividends, which you can access today.

At the time thisarticle was published Andrew Tonner held no financial position in any of the companies mentioned in this article. The Motley Fool owns shares of Westport Innovations and Apple.Motley Fool newsletter serviceshave recommended buying shares of Clean Energy Fuels, Apple, and Westport Innovations and creating a bull call spread position in Apple. The Motley Fool has adisclosure policy. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe thatconsidering a diverse range of insightsmakes us better investors. Try any of our Foolish newsletter servicesfree for 30 days.

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