With tropical storm damage not too bad, Dow jumps 254; almost even for year

Stocks rose broadly Monday, led by insurance companies, after it became clear the tropical storm caused far less damage than many had feared. The Dow Jones industrial average jumped 254 points.

Trading volume, or the number of shares bought and sold, was the lowest since July 26 as many traders struggled to get to work in Lower Manhattan or were still on vacation.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 254.71 points, or 2.3 percent, to close at 11,539.25. It is now down just 0.3 percent for the year. It had been down as much as 7.4 percent for the year Aug. 10.

The …