Stocks Trip Over Bad Econ Data

But a modest hit

(NEWSER) - Stocks got a modest bump at the opening bell today despite an ugly job report, as mixed earnings clouded the waters. The Dow rose 69 points, while the S&P and Nasdaq rose 0.7% and 0.5% respectively. Jobless claims took an unexpected spike last week, and the Wall Street Journal reports that Goldman Sachs is about to cut 10% of its workforce. More»

Recession fears keep bears growling

(NEWSER) - Recession fears kept bears roaring today, as the Dow shed 230 points at the open on a spate of lousy third-quarter results. Wachovia posted a staggering $23.9 billion loss to lead a group of five gloomy blue chip reports, the Wall Street Journal reports. “We’ve seen a range of poor results lately,” said one market watcher, “and there is no reason why this is not set to continue.” More»

2009 the best year for the market since 2003

(NEWSER) - Stocks are expected to rise this week, capping off Wall Street’s best year in recent memory. It’s the first time in two years that stocks have posted annual growth, and for the S&P 500, it could be the best year since 2003. Though the economy is far from healthy, investors think economic indicators will keep improving, Reuters reports. “There’s an upward bias,” says the head of one investment firm. More»

Dow hits new 2009 high but falls back amid light volume

(NEWSER) - The stock indices ended mixed today after strong morning gains lost steam. The Dow hit a new high for 2009, 9931.82, off strong expectations for the third-quarter earnings. But profit-taking traders capitalized on recent gains, pushing the market lower; light trading volume on the Columbus Day holiday amplified their actions. The Dow closed up 20.86 points at 9,885.80. The Nasdaq lost just 0.14 to close at 2,139.14, and the S&P 500 settled at 1,076.18, having gained 4.69, the Wall Street Journal reports. More»

(NEWSER) - Stocks got a modest boost at the open, as better-than-expected earnings battled with stress test anxiety. The Dow rose 51 points, while the S&P and Nasdaq added 0.6% and 0.4% respectively, the Wall Street Journal reports. Ford skyrocketed 19% after reporting a mere $1.4 billion—and more importantly burned through less cash. American Express and Microsoft also beat estimates; the Dow components were up 12% and 3.4% respectively. More»