Earnings, Subprimes Sink Stocks

Price of barrel drops to $126, a 7-week low

(NEWSER) - Stocks climbed to robust gains by the end of today’s session as a drop in oil helped offset a spread of mixed earning reports, MarketWatch reports. The Dow gained 135.16 points to close at 11,602.50, the Nasdaq rose 24.43 to 2,303.9, and the S&P 500 climbed 17.01 points to 1,277.01. More»

Google, AmEx drop despite positive earnings reports

(NEWSER) - Strong earnings just weren't enough to buoy the markets today, as Google and American Express saw big declines despite strong quarterly reports. Goldman Sachs and other financials also posted losses due to fear over President Obama's new restrictions on banks, the Wall Street Journal reports.

• The Dow lost 216.90 points to close at 10,172.98.
• The Nasdaq fell 60.41, dropping to 2,205.29.
• The S&P 500 shed 254.72, settling at 1,091.76.

Expectations for Caterpillar, AmEx earnings boost Dow

(NEWSER) - Stocks rallied today on expectations for this week’s earnings reports, with the Dow rising 96.28 points to hit a new 2009 high of 10,092.19. Caterpillar, which reports tomorrow, gained 6.5% after saying it would raise prices. American Express, which reports Thursday, gained 2.6%. Traders were cautiously optimistic about Apple, which reported better-than-projected results after the bell: its stock rose 1%. The Nasdaq gained 19.52 to close at 2,176.32, and the S&P 500 added 10.23 to close at 1,097.91, the Wall Street Journal reports. More»

Disappointing data drives indices lower; RIM falls 17.1%

(NEWSER) - Stocks fell today after reports of a smaller-than-expected rise in new home sales and a drop in orders for durable goods over the last month. Blue chips Alcoa, Amex, and Wal-Mart all fell at least 2%, and RIM dropped 17.1% after issuing a disappointing earnings forecast. The Dow dropped 42.25 points to close at 9,665.19. The Nasdaq lost 16.69, closing at 2,090.92, and the S&P 500 fell 6.40 to settle at 1,044.38, the Wall Street Journal reports. More»

September rally sees slight pullback

(NEWSER) - Stock indices finished mixed today after the markets reached what most traders saw as a slight pause in a very strong September, the Wall Street Journal reports. Financials led declines: AmEx fell 2.9%, while Bank of America lost 1.8%. Google rose 1.1% after Citigroup analysts boosted their third-quarter estimate. The Dow closed down 41.34 points at 9,778.86. The Nasdaq gained 5.18, closing at 2,138.04, while the S&P 500 lost 3.64, finishing at 1,064.66. More»