Energy, industrial and financial firms

Energy, industrial and financial firms led the louis vuitton outlet advance. Contributing to gains by the Dow industrials, shares of International Business Machines Corp rose 1.15 percent to $203.27. Heavy equipment manufacturer Caterpillar added 1.72 percent to $88.60. Equities have rallied in recent weeks on hopes for monetary stimulus by central banks. The Federal Reserve could announce Thursday additional steps to support low interest rates. On Wednesday, Germany's highest court will decide on the legality of the euro zone's new bailout fund. The Nasdaq erased most of its gains in the louis vuitton usa afternoon as shares of Apple dropped in heavy volume. The stock slipped 0.32 percent to $660.59. Economists forecast a 60 percent chance the U.S. central bank will announce another round of quantitative easing at the end of its two-day meeting. Disappointing U.S. August jobs data released last Friday bolstered that view. "I do expect the Fed to (announce) an additional quantitative easing program. I don't think it's a good idea. I don't think it's louis vuitton usa website warranted," said Jamie Cox, managing partner of Harris Financial Group in Richmond, Virginia.