Dow Up 56 on Oil, Gold

(NEWSER) - Stocks jumped at the open today, with the Dow up 61 points, the Nasdaq adding 0.5%, and the S&P gaining 0.7%, powered by strong moves in its energy and basic materials sectors. That was due in part to the surge in fuel prices, with oil clearing $71 a barrel. Chevron and Exxon Mobil each rose 1%. Shares in industrial companies also climbed, with Caterpillar up 1.3%. If it holds, the Dow's move will put it in positive territory for the year. More»

China's GDP slowdown spooks investors as well

(NEWSER) - Stocks fell today as a wave of poor earnings soured investor confidence across the board, though the continued drop in interbank lending rates kept losses in check, the Wall Street Journal reports. The Dow closed down 231.77 at 9,033.66. The Nasdaq fell 73.35 to 1,696.68, while the S&P 500 slipped 30.35 to settle at 955.05. More»

Bad data pummels equities; oil drops below $75 per barrel

(NEWSER) - Stocks continued to slide in the final hours of the trading day as retail sales and manufacturing activity slowed while core inflation jumped, the Wall Street Journal reports. Oil slid $4.09 to $74.54 a barrel, its lowest price in 2008. The Dow closed down 733.08 at 8,577.91—the index's second-largest point drop ever. The Nasdaq shed 150.68, closing at 1,628.33, and the S&P 500 lost 90.17 to settle at 907.84. More»

Gray day on Street ahead of Fed's policy meeting

(NEWSER) - Stocks closed down today, giving back gains from an early rally despite a nearly $4 drop in crude oil prices as worries about economic growth and inflation persisted, the Wall Street Journal reports. The Dow fell 42.17 to close at 11,284.15, the Nasdaq lost 25.40 and finished at 2,285.56, and the S&P 500 shed 11.29 points to settle at 1,249.02. More»

Exxon's quarterly results beat expectations

(NEWSER) - Stocks rallied today on a strong earnings report by ExxonMobil and data showing the US factory sector performed well in January, the Wall Street Journal reports.

• The Dow added 118.30 points to close at 10,185.53.
• The Nasdaq gained 243.85, closing at 2,171.20.
• The S&P 500 rose 15.31 to settle at 1,089.18.