Closing Bell: Major markets up, and 3-Card Monte surprises with AIG, NVDA, QCOM, PFE, and WFC

Today's weak and horrible jobs numbers did not wreck the markets because they were actually a tad less horrible than yesterday's whisper numbers. It is amazing when 6.5% unemployment and -240,000 jobs to make 1.2 million jobs lost this year is GOOD NEWS.

Here are unofficial closing bell levels:

Dow 8,943.89 +248.10 (2.85%)
S&P 500 930.75 +25.87 (2.86%)
Nasdaq 1,647.40 +38.70 (2.41%)
52-Week Lows

American International Group (NYSE: AIG) rose on multiple reports that federal officials are looking at ways to ease financial pressure on the insurance giant. Shares were up over 11% at $2.08 right before the close.

NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA) rose after its earnings came in well above plan considering that it had set the bar so low. Despite a revenue warning, value buyers had this graphics card giant trading up 13% at $8.61 right before the close.

QUALCOMM (NASDAQ: QCOM) was a surprise gainer today after trading down this morning. The CDMA cellular chip and wireless standard giant missed earnings and guided estimates down on weakening cell phone sales trends. Shares were up almost 8% at $35.57 right at the close.

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) was under more pressure this morning, but rose throughout the trading day. Goldman Sachs downgraded this stock today down to a SELL rating, yet shares were uo almost 3% at $16.84 right before the close of the day.

Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE: WFC) was actually flirting with positive territory at 3:59. Considering it sold $11 billion in stock at $27.00, it is amazing that it was only down 0.1% at $28.72 in the seconds before that unofficial closing level.