U.S. stocks responded positively to indications that a resolution to the fiscal cliff problem may be near. CNNMoney reports the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.87 percent, +115.57 points, ending the day at 13,350.96. The Nasdaq moved up 1.46 percent, +43.93 points, to close at 3,054.53, while the S&P advanced +1.15 percent, +16.43 points, to close at 1,446.79. The Yahoo! Finance Manufactured Housing Composite gained +2.93 percent to close at 1226.5. All but one of the housing stocks we follow closed up or even. Universal Forest Products, Inc. gained the most of tracked stocks, +5.27 percent, +1.95, to end the day at 38.95. UMH was the only stock we follow that dropped, falling -0.10 percent, -0.01, to close at 10.00. Affiliated Managers Group 131.94 +1.82 (+1.40%). Cavco Industries 50.09 +1.05 (+2.14%). Champion, Liberty Homes, and Palm Harbor all remained unchanged. Clayton Homes, Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance, as well as MH home-building, lending and other housing suppliers parent company Berkshire Hathaway 135,700 +850. (+0.63%). Deer Valley 0.55 +0.01 (+2.04%). Drew Industries 32.24 +0.65 (+2.06%). Equity LifeStyle Properties 66.68 +0.07 (+0.11%). Louisiana Pacific Industries 18.41 +0.72 (+4.07%). Nobility Homes remained unchanged at 4.95. Patrick Industries 15.29 +0.23 (+1.45%). Skyline Corp. 4.19 +0.15 (+3.71%). Sun Communities, Inc. 38.81 +0.02 (+0.07%). Third Avenue Value Fund (Dec. 17) 50.13 +0.18 (+0.36%).
