Jobs, Sales Send Stocks Diving

(NEWSER) - Markets edged up today on good unemployment claims and productivity data, the Wall Street Journal reports. But traders appear to be holding out for tomorrow’s employment report, and the rising price of oil continues to worry. “We have to hope it doesn't go to $80,” one trader said. “It was energy that definitely exacerbated things last summer.” The Dow was up 74.96 to 8,750.24. The S&P tacked on 10.70, ending at 942.26. And NASDAQ rose 24.10 to 1,850.02. 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»

Worrisome news on retail, jobs sink stocks

(NEWSER) - Stocks added to yesterday’s deep declines with the major indices registering falls of 4%-5% today, MarketWatch reports. A string of poor retail reports soured confidence ahead of tomorrow’s October unemployment report, expected to be grim. The Dow fell 443.48, dropping below the 9,000 mark to 8,695.79. The Nasdaq lost 72.94 to 1,608.70, and the S&P 500 shed 47.89 to settle at 904.88. More»

Sliding oil again fails to move markets worried over unemployment

(NEWSER) - Stocks finished the week with a mixed session today, managing to mostly recover from an early sell-off in reaction to a 5-year high in monthly unemployment, MarketWatch reports. The Dow rose 32.73 to close at 11,220.96. The Nasdaq fell 3.16 to 2,255.88, while the S&P 500 rose 5.48, settling at 1,242.31. More»

Dow falls 100 points for 2nd straight day

(NEWSER) - The markets saw losses today as anxiety about financial firms persisted and oil rose nearly $3 to $116 a barrel, MarketWatch reports. The Dow was hit especially hard, falling 109.51 points to 11,532.96. The other indices made afternoon gains but fell back, with the Nasdaq closing down 1.99 points at 2,428.62, and the S&P off 3.76 points at 1,285.83. More»