NEW YORK Wall Street extended its October rally Monday as investors grew more optimistic about upcoming earnings reports, and a decline in oil bolstered hope for higher consumer spending. The Dow Jones industrials crossed 12,100 for the first time. Dow component Wal-Mart Stores Inc., which said it will cut capital spending to improve its profits, helped the blue chips to their new trading high. Strength from International Business Machines Corp., Hasbro Inc., and Xerox Corp. also fed the advance. Just halfway through third-quarter earnings season, generally upbeat reports have instilled new confidence about the future in investors. "The picture being...
