Dow Up 106; Hope for a Bottom

Disappointing data drives indices lower; RIM falls 17.1%

(NEWSER) - Stocks fell today after reports of a smaller-than-expected rise in new home sales and a drop in orders for durable goods over the last month. Blue chips Alcoa, Amex, and Wal-Mart all fell at least 2%, and RIM dropped 17.1% after issuing a disappointing earnings forecast. The Dow dropped 42.25 points to close at 9,665.19. The Nasdaq lost 16.69, closing at 2,090.92, and the S&P 500 fell 6.40 to settle at 1,044.38, the Wall Street Journal reports. More»

Index nosedives after more bad news about spending

(NEWSER) - The Dow plunged 246.79 points to 12,606.30 today as investors, worried about consumer spending, fled retailers and credit-card issuers. Analysts are concerned the mortgage crisis has finally hit pocketbooks, hurting credit, jobs, and public confidence, the Wall Street Journal reports.The Nasdaq slid 48.58 to close at 2,439.94, and the S&P 500 fell 19.31 to 1,401.02. More»

Google, AmEx drop despite positive earnings reports

(NEWSER) - Strong earnings just weren't enough to buoy the markets today, as Google and American Express saw big declines despite strong quarterly reports. Goldman Sachs and other financials also posted losses due to fear over President Obama's new restrictions on banks, the Wall Street Journal reports.

• The Dow lost 216.90 points to close at 10,172.98.
• The Nasdaq fell 60.41, dropping to 2,205.29.
• The S&P 500 shed 254.72, settling at 1,091.76.

Mastercard reports better-than-expected holiday sales

(NEWSER) - Stocks faltered but managed to reclaim most of the day's gains in the final hour of today's session. The day saw light trading volume and news of a bump in retail sales from MasterCard's SpendingPulse unit, the Wall Street Journal reports.

• The Dow gained 26.98 points to close at 10,547.08.
• The Nasdaq added 5.39, closing at 2,291.08.
• The S&P 500 rose 1.30 to settle at 1,127.78.

Expectations for Caterpillar, AmEx earnings boost Dow

(NEWSER) - Stocks rallied today on expectations for this week’s earnings reports, with the Dow rising 96.28 points to hit a new 2009 high of 10,092.19. Caterpillar, which reports tomorrow, gained 6.5% after saying it would raise prices. American Express, which reports Thursday, gained 2.6%. Traders were cautiously optimistic about Apple, which reported better-than-projected results after the bell: its stock rose 1%. The Nasdaq gained 19.52 to close at 2,176.32, and the S&P 500 added 10.23 to close at 1,097.91, the Wall Street Journal reports. More»