The company said its financial services group and medical systems business also posted strong gains.

And for the first time in 15 years, land prices have posted gains.

Both have posted gains of about 20 percent so far this year.

Two other oil companies also posted gains for the recent quarter.

These starts had posted a 5.5 percent gain in October.

The Midwest posted a 6 percent gain, to 337,000 from 318,000.

First Union and other big regional banks posted strong gains.

The hotel and real estate unit posted a 30 percent gain.

But the market bounced back that afternoon and posted gains for the day.

Even giants like Intel have posted gains of 60 percent or more.