Stocks Tread Water; Dow Up 5

(NEWSER) - Markets were off today on falling oil prices and a poor showing from the financial industry, the Wall Street Journal reports. The S&P energy index fell 2.4% and Bank of America, Pfizer, and Wal-Mart also saw declines. General Motors, whose low share price no longer significantly affects markets, was off 4%. The Dow was down 62.68, to 8,268.64. The S&P 500 slumped 10.19, to 882.88. And the Nasdaq finished down 9.07 at 1,680.14. More»

Mixed data leads to seesaw after Wednesday's rally

(NEWSER) - The Dow ticked up 1.22 points to close at 12,620.49 today, after a flood of mixed earning reports mostly kept stocks down during the session. One analyst was impressed the market didn’t dip, saying it “seems to be holding up relatively well, especially after yesterday’s rally.” The Nasdaq was off 8.28 points, closing at 2,341.83, and the S&P rose 0.85 to 1,365.56. More»

Energy sector leads stocks lower; financials up on BofA settlement

(NEWSER) - Energy issues pushed stocks lower today after indexes hung around opening levels and briefly wandered into positive territory. Bank of America's settlement with the SEC over its acquisition of Merrill Lynch last year boosted financials, the Wall Street Journal reports.

• The Dow fell 18.97 points to close at 10,383.38.
• The Nasdaq lost 1.84, settling at 2,242.03.
• The S&P 500 dropped 1.16 to close at 1,108.01.

(NEWSER) - Markets rose significantly today on indications of a turnaround in the housing sector, the Wall Street Journal reports, with an industry confidence metric at its highest since September 2008. Financials—Bank of America was up 9.8%—led the S&P to a symbolic close above 900. The Dow was up 235.44 to 8,504.08. The S&P rose 26.83 to 909.70. And the Nasdaq gained 52.22, ending at 1,732.36. 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»