Dow Climbs 37 on Day 8 of Streak

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.

Manufacturing employment rises

(NEWSER) - News of Prudential's agreement to buy AIG's Asia division sowed confidence on Wall Street today. Stocks rose, boosted as well by a jump in manufacturing employment, the Wall Street Journal reports.

• The Dow rose 78.53 points to close at 10,403.79.
• The Nasdaq added 35.31, closing at 2,273.57.
• The S&P 500 gained 11.22 to settle at 1,115.71.

Markets recover after last week's bloodbath

(NEWSER) - Stocks posted gains today as some investors bought up bargains in the wake of last week's big losses—but volume was light as most remained cautious ahead of the State of the Union address, a hearing on AIG's bailout, and a Fed interest-rate decision, the Wall Street Journal reports.

• The Dow rose 23.88 points to close at 10,196.86.
• The Nasdaq added 5.51, settling at 2,210.80.
• The S&P 500 gained 5.02, closing at 1,096.78.

Fear of Sept. stock pullback drives gold to 6-month high

(NEWSER) - Stocks jumped today on the strength of blue-chip financials after mostly idling. Volume was low as investors waited for the government’s monthly employment report, due tomorrow, the Wall Street Journal reports. AIG and Citigroup rose, while safe-haven buying pushed gold to almost to $1,000 an ounce, a level not seen since February. The Dow rose 63.94 points to close at 9,344.61. The Nasdaq added 16.13 to close at 1,983.20, and the S&P 500 rose 8.49 to settle at 1,003.24. More»

Financials lead broad selloff

(NEWSER) - Financials led stocks in a steep sell-off today that saw the Dow’s biggest decline in 2 months, the Wall Street Journal reports. AIG fell 20.9% on an analyst’s report that without government support, it would be worth a negative $6.4 billion. Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Citigroup, and Bank of America all fell as well, in what could be the beginning of a steep correction to the summer’s rally. The Dow fell 186 points to settle at 9,311. The Nasdaq lost 40 points, closing at 1,969, and the S&P 500 dropped 23 points to 998. More»