ETFs Rally as Major Indexes Gain Ground

A combination of accounting and policy shifts spurred a broad-based rally Thursday as financial services and technology stocks notched gains. The Federal Accounting Services Board said it would relax mark-to-market accounting rules, clearing the way for banks to make their balance sheets look better, a move long sought by many investors. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 216 points to close at 7978. For a complete rundown on Thursday’s trading session see our market story. 

Investor optimism spurred interest in transportation stocks, giving a 7.9% boost to the iShares Dow Jones Transportation Average Index fund (IYT). Crude prices climbed above $56, spurring the iPath S&P GSCI Crude Oil Total Return fund (OIL) 8.4%.

Gold dipped to $905 an ounce, knocking back shares of the Market Vectors Gold Miners (GDX) by 3.9XX%. SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) declined 2.5%.

Earnings and Conference Calls
American Tire Distributors, Blyth

Economic Data
8:30 a.m. March Non-Farm Payrolls
8:30 a.m. March Unemployment Rate
10:00 a.m. March ISM Non-Manufacturing Index

A look at how the industry's most popular ETFs did on Thursday: