These tax moves are particularly important in a year like this one - when stocks have been posting solid but unspectacular gains.

Blue-chip stocks posted moderate gains in a late burst of buying.

Several stocks rumored as takeover targets posted substantial losses on the day.

American stocks posted their fifth consecutive annual gain in 1986.

American financial stocks, which had once climbed ever higher alongside the booming economy, posted big declines.

Their stocks, in the absence of major news, have posted sizzling returns this year.

The stocks of precious metal mining companies, as is usually the case, posted gains in an otherwise troubled market.

But over the last year the stock has posted a gain of 116 percent.

Many cyclical stocks, which swing on turns in the economy, have already posted big gains.

Because of these interest rate developments, stocks also posted gains, though less spectacular, reaching new record levels.