Manufacturing Stats Send Dow Down 187

Dow, S&P 500 now negative for 2009

(NEWSER) - A global rout in materials and energy stocks combined with a sell-off in financials to wreak havoc on US markets today, the Wall Street Journal reports. The Dow closed down 200.72 at 8,339.01. The Nasdaq lost 61.28, closing at 1,766.19, and the S&P 500 dropped 28.19 to close at 893.04. The Dow is now down 1.1% for the year, while the S&P is off 5%. More»

Industrial, financial stocks pace declines

(NEWSER) - Stocks fell today, ending a 4-day winning streak for the Dow as worries about grim first-quarter earnings reports spooked investors, the Wall Street Journal reports. Alcoa, which will give its report tomorrow, fell 4.3%, as did Caterpillar, off 3.5%. The Dow fell 41.74 to close at 7,975.85. The Nasdaq lost 15.16, settling at 1,606.71, and the S&P 500 dropped 7.02 to 835.48. More»

Index makes a beeline for 6,000

(NEWSER) - Investors sold stock in droves today amid continued financial-sector woes and a poor report on manufacturing, the Wall Street Journal reports. Financials sank, and the manufacturing woes sent General Electric, Boeing, Caterpillar and 3M into downward spirals. The Dow fell 299.64 to close at 6,763.29. The Nasdaq lost 54.99, closing at 1,322.85, and the S&P 500 shed 34.27 to settle at 700.82. More»

China reports big 56% jump in imports from year-ago

(NEWSER) - The markets were mixed today as traders awaited the launch of quarterly earnings season, which began after the bell. Dow component Caterpillar gained on trade figures from China, the Wall Street Journal reports.

• The Dow gained 45.80 points to close at 10,663.99.
• The Nasdaq lost 4.76, settling at 2,312.41.
• The S&P 500 gained 2.00, closing at 1,146.98.

Mining giants Bucyrus, Terex to merge

(NEWSER) - Stocks saw broad gains today as analysts upgraded blue chips Alcoa and Intel and big mergers were announced in the mining and health-care sectors, the Wall Street Journal reports.

• The Dow rose 85.25 points to close at 10,414.14.
• The Nasdaq added 25.97, ending the session at 2,237.66.
• The S&P 500 gained 11.58 to settle at 1,114.05.