Shares of most of Hawai'i's publicly traded companies surged today as broader markets reacted to word that the government will take steps to formulate a permanent plan for helping financial markets.

Nine of 11 issues in the Honolulu Advertiser-Bloomberg Hawai'i Index rose for the day, led by a surge in shares of Central Pacific Financial and Maui Land and Pineapple Co. The index had its biggest increase on a point and percentage basis since its creation in August 2007, rising 9.59 points, or 10.9 percent, to 97.87.

Central Pacific Financial jumped $4.76 to $18.70, a 34 percent increase. Maui Land rose $5.01 to $27.20.

The lone decliner on the day was Hawaiian Airlines parent company, Hawaiian Holdings Inc., which slipped 8 cents to $9.78.

Bloomberg News reported U.S. stocks rallied the most in six years on prospects of a possible permanent government plan to shore up financial markets and as regulators and pension funds took steps to curb bets against banks and brokerages.

Bloomberg reported the Standard & Poor's 500 Index advanced 49.94 points to 1,206.33, recovering most of yesterday's 4.7 percent tumble.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 410.03, or 3.9 percent, to 11,019.69.