Stocks gain

US stocks started 2011 on an upbeat note yes terday with all three key indexes hitting new mul ti-year highs. The Nas daq Composite rose 1.5 percent to 2,691.52, while the S&P 500 climbed 1.1 percent to 1,271.89. The Dow Jones industrial av erage jumped 0.8 per cent to 11,670.75.

Clorox cuts

Clorox shares fell 2.7 percent, to $61.57, after the maker of household cleaners slashed the top end of its revenue fore cast for the year.

Oil gusher

Crude for February de livery settled up 0.2 per cent, at $91.55 a barrel on the New York Mercan tile Exchange after climbing to an intraday high of $92.58, the high est since October 2008.

Busy factories

Manufacturing in the US expanded in De cember at the fastest pace in seven months, according to the Insti tute for Supply Man agement.

Rising Dollar

Dollar General plans to hire 6,000 workers in 2011 as part of its effort to open 625 stores. It will open stores for the first time in Connecticut.