Market Rises on Strong Jobs Report

Dow, S&P 500 now negative for 2009

(NEWSER) - A global rout in materials and energy stocks combined with a sell-off in financials to wreak havoc on US markets today, the Wall Street Journal reports. The Dow closed down 200.72 at 8,339.01. The Nasdaq lost 61.28, closing at 1,766.19, and the S&P 500 dropped 28.19 to close at 893.04. The Dow is now down 1.1% for the year, while the S&P is off 5%. More»

Manufacturing, housing demand reports disappoint

(NEWSER) - Stocks fell today as a sharp monthly decline in the New York Fed’s manufacturing index hammered the materials, industrial, and energy sectors, the Wall Street Journal reports. Alcoa fell 6.3%, with Caterpillar, John Deere, and GE also down. In housing, the National Association of Home Builders’ index of demand for real estate unexpectedly fell in June. The Dow lost 187.13 points to settle at 8,612.13. the Nasdaq fell 42.42 to 1,816.38, while the S&P 500 closed down 22.49 at 923.72. More»

Investors nervous ahead of Friday's December employment report

(NEWSER) - Stocks piled on after this morning’s losses, with investors shaken by a grim jobs report and news of layoffs and slashed forecasts at Alcoa and Intel. Crude plunged $5.95, to $43.01 a barrel, after inventories rose more than forecast, MarketWatch reports. The Dow fell 245.40 to close at 8,769.70. The Nasdaq dropped 53.32 to 1,599.06, and the S&P 500 closed down 28.05 at 906.65. More»

Mining giants Bucyrus, Terex to merge

(NEWSER) - Stocks saw broad gains today as analysts upgraded blue chips Alcoa and Intel and big mergers were announced in the mining and health-care sectors, the Wall Street Journal reports.

• The Dow rose 85.25 points to close at 10,414.14.
• The Nasdaq added 25.97, ending the session at 2,237.66.
• The S&P 500 gained 11.58 to settle at 1,114.05.

Retail sales beat expectations in November

(NEWSER) - Stocks ended today's session mixed, with the Dow posting solid gains. Alcoa saw a. 8% jump on an optimistic profit estimate by JPMorgan, and the University of Michigan/Reuters December consumer sentiment index beat expectations, the Wall Street Journal reports.

• The Dow rose 65.67 points to close at 10,471.50.
• The Nasdaq fell 0.55, settling at 2,190.51.
• The S&P 500 gained 4.06, closing at 1,106.41.