Wall Street ended higher though a little off its best for the day as Dubai World failed to agree a standstill with its lenders. A proposal relating to its $22bn of debt is planned for mid-January.

Dow Jones closed 85 points higher at 10,414. Nasdaq added 25 to 2,237 while the S&P 500 gained 11 at 1,114.

Sentiment early got a boost as the US healthcare bill passed an important test vote in the Senate early this morning. Several more votes on the bill are expected this week. Health insurers were in demand with Aetna, Cigna, Coventry Healthcare and UnitedHealth Group all higher.

The news of the US healthcare bill and the $1.9bn bid for Chattem Inc by Sanofi-Aventis helped pharma giants Merck and Pfizer. Pfizer also has agreed to buy the rights to a stem-cell therapy for inflammatory bowel disease from Cleveland-based Athersys, whose share price tripled.

Chip maker Intel continued its recovery after its recent drop due to US regulatory problems.

Aluminium producer Alcoa was higher on the back of an upgrade by Morgan Stanley. The recommendation was increased to overweight and a target price of $22 set. The broker expects a rally in aluminium in the first half of 2010.

The Citadel Broadcasting Corporation, one of America's biggest radio broadcasters, filed for bankruptcy on Sunday after agreeing to turn over control of the company to creditors in return for cutting its debt. It listed liabilities of $2.5bn on assets of just $1.4bn.

General Motors (GM) is 'evaluating' interest in its Swedish car unit Saab from a number of parties following Friday's decision to wind down the loss-making business. Dutch sports car firm Spyker renewed an offer for Saab at the eleventh-hour and gave GM until 2200 GMT on Monday to respond. Boss Victor Muller is 'very confident' a deal for the 60-year-old brand can be done.

Oil prices dipped a little to under $73 per barrel.

S&P 500 - Risers
Alcoa Inc. (AA) $15.73 +7.89%
Titanium Metals Corp. (TIE) $12.19 +7.78%
A K Steel Holdings Corp. (AKS) $21.36 +6.80%
United States Steel (X) $52.35 +6.34%
L S I Logic Corp. (LSI) $5.96 +6.24%

S&P 500 - Fallers
Newmont Min Corp. (NEM) $46.98 -2.65%
E*Trade Financial Corp. (ETFC) $1.74 -2.25%
Dynegy Inc. Holdings Co (DYN) $1.91 -2.05%
Slm Corp. (SLM) $11.08 -2.03%
Ciena Corp. (CIEN) $10.84 -1.90%

Dow Jones I.A - Risers
Alcoa Inc. (AA) $15.73 +7.89%
Intel Corp. (INTC) $20.11 +2.45%
JP Morgan Chase & Co. (JPM) $41.90 +2.32%
Pfizer Inc. (PFE) $18.61 +1.69%
Bank Of America Corp. (BAC) $15.28 +1.66%

Dow Jones I.A - Fallers
Procter & Gamble Co. (PG) $61.30 -0.41%
United Technologies Corp. (UTX) $69.36 -0.14%
General Electric Co. (GE) $15.57 -0.13%
Kraft Foods Inc. (KFT) $26.99 -0.07%
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) $64.33 -0.06%

Related shares