Stimulus Hope Lifts Dow 217

Financials rally as outlook darkens for government lenders

(NEWSER) - The markets ended with modest gains today, led by a rally in financials despite continued anxiety over the future of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, MarketWatch reports. Treasury chief Henry Paulson and Ben Bernanke's call for greater regulatory powers encouraged investors. The Dow gained 81.58 points to 11,229.02, the Nasdaq rose 22.96 to 2,257.85, and the S&P 500 gained 8.70 to 1,253.39. 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»

(NEWSER) - Stocks plunged at the open, as banks sold shares to raise capital, and consumer and commodity stocks took a pounding, the Wall Street Journal reports. The Dow was down 140, the Nasdaq down 1.8% and the S&P off 2.1. Oil producers were hit hard as crude fell blow $58 a barrel, while Bank of America and Morgan Stanley led financials south, falling 3% and 2% respectively. More»

Caution follows yesterday's rally

(NEWSER) - Stocks finished below today’s session highs but closed with slight gains, barely making the first two-day winning streak in a month, the Wall Street Journal reports. Financials mostly gained, with shares of Citigroup, Morgan Stanley and Bank of America up at least 4%. The Dow closed up 3.91 at 6,930.40. The Nasdaq rose 13.36 to 1,371.64, and the S&P 500 gained 1.76, settling at 721.36. More»

Dow blows by Tuesday low

(NEWSER) - Stocks fell today, with the Dow passing the bear-market low it set Tuesday, and two giants of US banking and manufacturing trading at less than $2, MarketWatch reports. Mounting problems at Citigroup and General Motors drove their shares to $1.02, and $1.95, respectively. The Dow dropped 281.40 to close at 6,594.44. The Nasdaq lost 54.15, closing at 1,299.59, while the S&P 500 lost 30.32 to settle at 682.55. More»