Market diary.

The major market indices all finished the week ended April 27 making small gains after a string of upbeat economic news, including a drop in oil prices and a higher-than-expected rise in housing starts. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.9 percent to 10,198.80; the broader Standard & Poor's 500 Index gained 1.7 percent to 1156.38; the Nasdaq Composite Index inched up 0.9 percent to 1930.43. Locally, the LABJ 200 index of Los Angeles companies rose an even 1 percent to 112.11. Declines led advances 108 to 82, with 16 stocks hitting new lows and only seven reaching new highs. The financial services sector rose 7.3 percent; real and construction/engineering were up more than 3 percent. Hurt by the troubles of domestic car makers, the automotive/plastics/metals sector fell 5.1 percent. Among leading gainers, Overhill Farms Inc., a Los Angeles-based supplier of frozen foods, rose 26.9 percent to $2.50 a share after reporting strong earnings and sales. Stamps.com Inc. was up 24.5 percent to $19.91 the U.S. Postal Service brought back its personalized stamp service. Among the biggest losers was Arrowhead Research Corp., which dropped 17.9 percent to $2.80 after announcing a warrant redemption program. Superior Industries International, a manufacturer of aluminum wheels to automakers, continued its slide losing, 12.2 percent to $21.04.