Stocks Flat After Day in Red

Goldman Sachs rises, Pfizer falls

(NEWSER) - The stock market indices swung back and forth across a narrow range today as financials enjoyed advances but the health care sector declined, the Wall Street Journal reports. Goldman Sachs was up 3.69% after Bank of American Merrill Lynch upgraded Goldman shares from “neutral” to “buy.” Pfizer fell 2.19%. The Dow closed up 54.76 at 8,183.17, the Nasdaq gained 5.38, closing at 1,752.55, and the S&P 500 rose 3.12 to settle at 882.68. More»

Energy sector leads stocks lower; financials up on BofA settlement

(NEWSER) - Energy issues pushed stocks lower today after indexes hung around opening levels and briefly wandered into positive territory. Bank of America's settlement with the SEC over its acquisition of Merrill Lynch last year boosted financials, the Wall Street Journal reports.

• The Dow fell 18.97 points to close at 10,383.38.
• The Nasdaq lost 1.84, settling at 2,242.03.
• The S&P 500 dropped 1.16 to close at 1,108.01.

Dour day cuts into weekly gains

(NEWSER) - Stocks fell today as optimism about economic recovery waned in the face of disappointing earnings. Bank of American and General Electric’s financing division both posted quarterly losses. IBM, which reported strong profits but spooked investors with downbeat comments on the readiness of businesses to spend on technology, fell 5.2%, weighing down the price-weighted Dow. The Dow fell 67.03 points to close at 9,995.91. The Nasdaq lost 16.49, settling at 2,156.80, and the S&P 500 fell 8.88 to close at 1,087.68, the Wall Street Journal reports. More»

Indices all up at least 7% for the week

(NEWSER) - Stocks were generally flat today as investors stepped back from a 4-day rally. IBM boosted the Dow, rising 4.3% after reporting strong quarterly profits, the Wall Street Journal reports. GE and Bank of America both trended lower after reporting declining earnings. Housing data showed home construction rose in June, contrary to forecasts. The Dow closed up 32.12 points at 8,743.94. The Nasdaq gained 1.58 to close at 1,886.61, while the S&P 500 sank just 0.36 to 940.38. More»

(NEWSER) - Markets were off today on falling oil prices and a poor showing from the financial industry, the Wall Street Journal reports. The S&P energy index fell 2.4% and Bank of America, Pfizer, and Wal-Mart also saw declines. General Motors, whose low share price no longer significantly affects markets, was off 4%. The Dow was down 62.68, to 8,268.64. The S&P 500 slumped 10.19, to 882.88. And the Nasdaq finished down 9.07 at 1,680.14. More»