Dow Shakes Out of Slump

Stock prices finally came to life last week, propelling the DowJones index to its highest level in five months, but the expertswarn that the market is not a place for widows and orphans.

The cure for the market's summer blahs was a report Wednesdayby the Commerce Department that orders for expensive manufacturedgoods took an unexpected 4.2 percent plunge in July.

It said the drop in orders for durable goods - cars, homeappliances and other items meant to last at least three years - wasthe largest in 2 1/2 years.

Wall Street viewed the data as a sign that the threat ofinflation is receding, which tempered concern over further interestrate increases …