Big Banks Up; Dow Down 80

Obama plan for 'bad bank' inspires confidence

(NEWSER) - The Fed’s announcement today that it will keep target rates near zero sustained a rally led by financials, the Wall Street Journal reports. Financials continued to rise off the Obama administration’s plan to create a “bad bank” to buy toxic assets, with the Financial Select Sector Fund, which tracks the sector, up 11.2%. The Dow closed up 200.72 points at 8.375.45. The Nasdaq jumped 53.44 to 1,558.34, and the S&P 500 climbed 28.38 to 874.09. More»

Dow falls below 9,000 for first time since 2003

(NEWSER) - Stocks plunged in the last hours of trading today as a number of government moves did little to shore up investors' confidence, MarketWatch reports. The Dow’s losses accelerated sharply after it dropped below the psychological threshold of 9,000 points. It closed down 678.91 at 8,579.19; the Nasdaq lost 95.21, closing at 1,645.12, and the S&P 500 fell 75.02 to 909.92. More»

Fed chief soothes markets; Lehman may have a buyer

(NEWSER) - Stocks rallied today amid light trading but still saw weekly losses as oil prices fell and financials rebounded, helped in part by a speech by Ben Bernanke that eased inflation fears, MarketWatch reports. The Dow surged 197.85 to 11,628.06; the Nasdaq gained 34.33, closing at 2,414.71; and the S&P 500 climbed 14.47 to 1,292.19. More»

Bernanke predicts US GDP growth in 2010

(NEWSER) - Stocks rallied today on news of strong third-quarter economic growth in Japan and reassurance from Ben Bernanke that the Fed will keep interest rates low, the Wall Street Journal reports.

• The Dow rose 136.49 points to close at 10,406,96.
• The Nasdaq gained 29.97, settling at 2,197.85.
• The S&P 500 added 15.82 to close at 1,109.30.

Oil prices tumble $2.79

(NEWSER) - After an initial boost off the Fed's cautiously optimistic announcement and decision to leave interest rates unchanged, stocks fell late in the session, the Wall Street Journal reports. Crude oil tumbled $2.79 to $68.53 a barrel, driving sell-offs in energy stocks that in turn depressed the major indices. The Dow dropped 81 points to close at 9,749. The Nasdaq lost 15 points, settling at 2,131, and the S&P 500 fell 11 points to close at 1,061. More»