Dow Rises 189 After GDP News

GDP grows 5.9% in last quarter of 2009

(NEWSER) - Stocks closed out February by nudging into positive territory as investors weighed the news that GDP grew by 5.9% last quarter but existing-home sales plunged, the Wall Street Journal reports.

• The Dow gained 4.23 points to close at 10,325.26.
• The Nasdaq added 4.04, settling at 2,238.26.
• The S&P 500 rose 1.56 to settle at 1,104.49.

China moves to tighten lending; tech proves resilient

(NEWSER) - Stocks closed mixed today as China's move to restrict lending and a low reading of EU GDP stoked worries about global economic health, the Wall Street Journal reports.

• The Dow dropped 45.05 points to close at 10,099.14.
• The Nasdaq gained 6.12, closing at 2,183.53.
• The S&P 500 fell 32.96 to settle at 1,075.51.

Microsoft falls 4.5% despite strong profits

(NEWSER) - Stocks saw losses today as investors proved unmoved by the striking 5.7% jump in GDP for the second quarter. Microsoft led a broad decline in tech stocks despite reporting strong growth in quarterly profits, the Wall Street Journal reports.

• The Dow fell 53.13 points to close at 10,067.33.
• The Nasdaq lost 31.65, closing at 2,147.35.
• The S&P 500 dropped 10.66 to settle at 1,073.87.

Investors await consumer confidence, housing, GDP data

(NEWSER) - Stocks closed near to opening levels today, with the Dow just barely extending its winning streak into a fifth session, the Wall Street Journal reports. All the indices hit new highs for 2009 early, boosted by housing data, investors pulled back ahead of looming reports on consumer confidence, new home sales, and second-quarter GDP. The Dow closed up 3.32 points at 9,509.28. The Nasdaq sank 2.92 to close at 2,017.98, and the S&P 500 lost .57, closing at 1,025.56. More»

Nasdaq falls in today's session, but enjoys big monthly gains

(NEWSER) - Data which showed a slowing pace of decline for US gross domestic products fueled modest advances in the markets today, with the Dow finishing its best month since October 2002, the Wall Street Journal reports. Bank of America and Alcoa paced advancers, and the Dow closed up 17.15 at 9,171.61. The Nasdaq lost 5.80 to close at 1,978.50, while the S&P 500 gained 0.73, settling at 987.48. More»