Stock prices rose after Merkel and Sarcozy met during the weekends. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Sunday said a comprehensive response to the debt crisis would be finalized by the end of the month, including a detailed plan to ensure European banks have adequate capital. Stock markets welcomed the announcement, even though it offered little in the way of specifics.

U.S. employment figures have improved as new jobs were added by U.S. employers. The government also said more jobs were added in July and August than previously reported. But the payroll gains weren't enough to bring down the unemployment rate, which remained at 9.1 percent.

UAIndex