US stocks have closed with solid gains as the country goes to the polls to choose between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney for president, with the economy the key issue in the tight election.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 133.08 points (1.01 per cent) at 13,245.52 in closing trade.
The broad-based S&P 500 rose 11.09 (0.78 per cent) to 1,428.35, while the Nasdaq Composite climbed 12.27 (0.41 per cent) to 3,011.93.
Wall Street has been more behind the president’s Republican challenger Romney, who supports low investment-related taxes.
But most in the business world want a clear decision that will allow the government to move on fixing the extremely austere “fiscal cliff” legislation that comes into play at year end.
“The presidential race is considered too close to call. That probably means the nation is in store for a long night of political intrigue,” said Patrick O’Hare of Briefing.com.
“Let’s hope, however, that by this time tomorrow we at least know who has been elected president. There is a risk that we won’t and that won’t be a good thing.”