Around the World's Markets: New York

US STOCKS soared, sending the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbing past 9,500 for the first time as investors poured money into retirement accounts and mutual funds at the start of the year.

The Dow jumped 233.78, or 2.5 per cent, to 9,544.97, topping its 23 November high. The Standard & Poor's 500 index gained 27.58 points, or 2.2 per cent, to a record 1,272.36. The Nasdaq Composite index climbed 69.38, 3.1 per cent, to a record 2,320.65.