YAHOO [BRIEFING.COM]: Action this session was choppy and trade was both listless and thin, but stocks still put together a broad-based gain in the face of a strong rebound by the dollar.

The greenback bounced back from its 0.9% loss in the previous session to book a 1.0% gain against competing currencies this session. It had traded with strength for the entire session, but its gains were extended after the latest FOMC meeting minutes indicated that the Fed raised its 2010 GDP forecast to 3.2% from 3.0%. Despite the improved forecast, officials continue to believe that economic conditions warrant exceptionally low interest rates.

Despite the greenback's gain, stocks were able to add to their advance from the previous session. The follow-through was helped by strong overseas gains and kept intact by better-than-expected housing start numbers for January and in-line building permit numbers. Industrial production for January increased at a stronger-than-expected clip, while capacity utilization was in step with the consensus call.

Though earnings have generally been a nonfactor for determining the stock market's movements during recent weeks, strong results and an upbeat forecast from Deere & Co. (DE 56.48, +2.70) helped keep the mood among participants positive. As for the stock itself, it made its best single-session percentage gain in six months.

While DE's move was enviable, the stock lacked the leadership to attract a flood of market participants. In turn, trading volume this session barely broke 1 billion shares on the NYSE. Nonetheless, broad-market investors are likely pleased that stocks were able to advance in broad-based fashion for the second straight session.

Advancing Sectors: Health Care (+0.8%), Consumer Discretionary (+0.8%), Consumer Staples (+0.7%), Industrials (+0.6%), Tech (+0.4%), Financial (+0.4%), Telecom (+0.3%), Materials (+0.1%)
Declining Sectors: Energy (-0.4%), Utilities (-0.3%)DJ30 +40.43 NASDAQ +12.10 NQ100 +0.5% R2K +0.6% SP400 +0.6% SP500 +4.64 NASDAQ Adv/Vol/Dec 1565/2.06 bln/1063 NYSE Adv/Vol/Dec 2049/1.02 bln/978