Oregon Public Broadcasting

The Dow Jones industrial average closed the day Wednesday above 10,000 points for the first time in a year.

Analysts say a strong 3-month balance sheet from chipmaker Intel was one of the key drivers for the stock index.

Intel is the largest private employer in Oregon. And the company’s recent strength is partly due to good sales in Asia.

Intel’s spokesman in Oregon is Bill MacKenzie.

Bill MacKenzie: “China and Asia Pacific were the major areas that helped bolster our earnings – and that’s good news for Intel employees here because we are hub to some of our most advanced research and manufacturing in the world.”

That could signal good news for the state’s faltering economy -- a third of Oregon’s exports go to east Asia. And the Port of Portland reports that shipping tonnage has increased since the spring.

Oregon’s fate may not rise-and-fall with the Dow.

Just 54 companies based in Oregon are listed publicly, 25 fewer than a decade ago. Nike is the largest -- by a factor of three.

Nike stock ended the day Wednesday more than ten percent above where it was a year ago.