Investor confidence in the United States raced ahead today as the Standard & Poor’s 500 index and Nasdaq composite index both reached four-year highs.

Defence stocks in the United States jumped higher, buoyed by expectations that President George Bush’s re-election would benefit the sector.

Wall Street celebrated President George Bush’s re-election with a solid rally today, surging higher as investors welcomed continuity in Washington and shrugged off higher oil prices.

Defence stocks in the United States jumped higher today, buoyed by expectations that President George W Bush’s re-election would benefit the sector.

BAE Systems today moved closer to landing a multi-billion dollar contract to protect commercial aircraft from missile attack.

Wall Street stalled last night as upbeat earnings from Northrop Grumman and Kellogg couldn’t overcome investor concerns that the market’s recent rally might have come too quickly.

Wall Street stalled today as upbeat earnings from Northrop Grumman and Kellogg couldn’t overcome investor concerns that the market’s recent rally might have come too quickly.

E-Learning giant SkillSoft has won a contract to supply around 23,000 staff at defence electronics company Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems with IT and business e-learning solutions over a five-year period.

Share prices were higher in early trade after changing direction several times in uncertain price action, as investors reviewed a new set of technology sector research notes and a defense industry takeover offer, dealers said.