Alcoa (NYSE:AA) Leads Major Dow Companies

Alcoa Leads Dow to big gains

Alcoa (NYSE:AA) led major companies today tracked by the Dow Jones Industrial Average, gaining 46 cents, or 3.2 percent.

Even so, uncertaintly continues to follow Alcoa, although operatonally they've done a good job of controlling costs and shedding expensive businesses.

The two major concerns for the company are the ongoing recession, which is keeping a number of key markets down, and second, those recessionary pressures could result in decreased aluminum demand and another drop in prices.

Until demand returns, Alcoa has pretty much done what it could do in response to a slow economy, and until the economy begins to turn around, sustainable growth will be difficult for them.