Dow Plunges 382 Points

SEC moves to restrict short selling

(NEWSER) - Stocks plummeted again today as insecurity about the financial system gripped the markets, the Wall Street Journal reports. The AIG bailout proved to be of little comfort to traders, who quickly began betting on the next big firm to fall. The Dow closed down 449.36 points to 10,609.66. The Nasdaq fell 109.05, closing at 2,098.85, and the S&P 500 lost 57.21 points, settling at 1,156.39. More»

Investors predict payroll gains for March

(NEWSER) - Gains in financial stocks kept the markets afloat today. Both AIG and Citigroup closed up, in part because of a successful offering of $2 billion in trust preferred securities, the Wall Street Journal reports.

• The Dow gained 2.95 points to close at 10,567.33.
• The Nasdaq added 18.27 to settle at 2,358.95.
• The S&P 500 rose 5.17, closing at 1,145.61.

Intel, JP Morgan earnings, though positive, stoke worry

(NEWSER) - Stocks started the day with losses and failed to recover, with financials leading the slide. JPMorgan Chase dragged down the sector thanks to its quarterly report, which showed strong earnings but hinted at continued weakness in consumer loans, the Wall Street Journal reports.

• The Dow fell 100.90 points to close at 10,609.65.
• The Nasdaq lost 28.76, settling at 2,287.99.
• The S&P 500 dropped 12.43, closing at 1,136.03.

Dow up 6.5% for November

(NEWSER) - A rally in financial stocks helped the major indexes overcome a slump in retail shares, pushing stocks to solid gains today and capping a 6.5% rise by the Dow in November, the Wall Street Journal reports. For the day:

• The Dow rose 34.92 points to close at 10,344.84.
• The Nasdaq added 6.16, settling at 2,144.60.
• The S&P 500 gained 4.14 and ended the session at 1,095.63.

Markets continue 7th day of wild variations

(NEWSER) - Stocks seesawed today as good economic data on industry and the housing sector drove big early gains, which then fell victim to selloffs in the financial sector, the Wall Street Journal reports.

• The Dow climbed 76.71 points to close at 9,789.44.
• Nasdaq tacked on 4.09 to end at 2,049.20.
• The S&P gained 6.60 and wound up at 1,042.88.