In corporate news, the surge of bank stocks came following the purchase of Chrysler Financial by Toronto-Dominion Bank (NYSE: TD ). And even though the sector had some of its gains shaved late in the day, its influence led the S&P 500 higher for the 13th time in 15 sessions, making this December "Santa Claus rally" one of the most impressive in recent memory. In economic news, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the value of all goods and services produced in the United States, rose at a seasonally and inflation-adjusted annual rate of 2.6% in July through September.