In a further sign of business confidence, the November reading on capital spending plans was revised higher to show a 3 percent gain, up from the 2.6 percent rise reported a month ago.
Sun Microsystems, in second place, was the only one of the 28 most active issues to manage a price gain, up 50 cents, to $27.44.
But July factory orders were revised to a 1.7% gain, up from the 1.3% gain originally reported.
Merrill, which could face $4.5 billion in fourth-quarter write-downs according to Citi analyst Prashant Batia, finished the day with a modest gain, up about 0.5%.
Shares of Take-Two were posting a modest gain, up 13 cents, or 0.5%, to $26.60, while EA fell 13 cents, or 0.3%, to $51.70.
With 90 minutes to the close, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 41 points, or 0.6%, to 7,141, and the Nasdaq was holding a modest gain, up 2 points, or 0.1%, to 745.
The broader Standard & Poor's 500 climbed 23 points, or 1.8%, to 1,354, while the tech-fueled lagged slightly but still posted a 1.0% gain, up 24 points to 2,350.
After adjusting for taxes and non-controlling interests, investment losses and derivatives gains represent a net $1.5 billion gain, up from $610 million a year earlier.
