Russell 2000 adds to gains

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) has picked up speed and is outpacing the other major U.S. indices this afternoon. At 2:06 p.m. ET, the small-cap index had advanced 1.86 points, or 0.24%, to 774.24. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU) was up 32.44 points, or 0.25%, to 13,075.18.

Investors are modestly bullish following news that banking giants Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C), Bank of America Corp. (NYSE: BAC) and JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) have agreed to create a structured fund of at least $75 billion to help revive the short-term debt market, according to a report by The New York Times after the start of trading. The fund could be operational within a couple of weeks.

That news helped lift financial shares and send big- and small-cap stocks on an upward trajectory.

Otherwise, the day began quietly, as the bond market is closed and no major economic releases are scheduled as Americans honor Veterans Day.

International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE: IBM) made the headlines on news that it will buy business intelligence software maker Cognos Inc. (TSE: CSN) for $5 billion, while shares of online broker E*Trade Financial Corp. (Nasdaq: ETFC) are in dire straits on news of an analyst downgrade and the possibility of bankruptcy.

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