Dow Slips 6 Ahead of Earnings Reports

Several wireless and financial firms fall after downgrades

(NEWSER) - Stocks fell today as the markets digested poor, but better-than-forecast, reports in auto sales and construction spending, the Wall Street Journal reports. Though the Dow rose to an 8-week high Friday, it fell 81.80 today to close at 8,952.89. The Nasdaq lost 4.18, closing at 1,628.03, and the S&P 500 shed 4.35 to settle at 927.45. More»

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.

Retail sales beat expectations in November

(NEWSER) - Stocks ended today's session mixed, with the Dow posting solid gains. Alcoa saw a. 8% jump on an optimistic profit estimate by JPMorgan, and the University of Michigan/Reuters December consumer sentiment index beat expectations, the Wall Street Journal reports.

• The Dow rose 65.67 points to close at 10,471.50.
• The Nasdaq fell 0.55, settling at 2,190.51.
• The S&P 500 gained 4.06, closing at 1,106.41.

Weekly unemployment claims fall to lowest level since January

(NEWSER) - Stocks closed below their session highs but still finished in positive territory after Alcoa set a strong tone for the third-quarter earnings season. The firm posted a $77 million profit after the bell yesterday. Also helping was good news on the jobs front, with last week’s initial claims for jobless benefits down 33,000 to 521,000. The Dow gained 61 points to close at 9,787. The Nasdaq added 14 points to close at 2,124, and the S&P 500 gained 8 points, closing at 1,065, the Wall Street Journal reports. More»

September strength in service sector gives stocks a boost

(NEWSER) - Stocks surged to gains late in the session today, as traders placed bets ahead of the third-quarter earnings season. Alcoa, which is expected to report a strong quarter, gained 4.6%. The ISM reported an upturn in the service sector in September—its index rose to 50.9, with a reading over 50 signaling growth. The Dow rose 112.08 points to close at 9,599.75. The Nasdaq was up 20.04, settling at 2,068.15, and the S&P 500 gained 15.25 to close at 1,040.46, the Wall Street Journal reports. More»