Dow Up 61 on Strong Earnings

Investors nervous ahead of Friday's December employment report

(NEWSER) - Stocks piled on after this morning’s losses, with investors shaken by a grim jobs report and news of layoffs and slashed forecasts at Alcoa and Intel. Crude plunged $5.95, to $43.01 a barrel, after inventories rose more than forecast, MarketWatch reports. The Dow fell 245.40 to close at 8,769.70. The Nasdaq dropped 53.32 to 1,599.06, and the S&P 500 closed down 28.05 at 906.65. More»

All major indexes are in negative territory for the year

(NEWSER) - The only good thing to say about today's stock market is that it's finally over. The Dow fell a staggering 513 points, or 4.3%, to close at 11,384. It's the worst point drop since December 2008 and the worst percentage drop since February 2009, reports MarketWatch . The S&P 500 plunged 60, or nearly 5%, and NASDAQ dropped 137, about 5%. All three major indexes are now in the red for the year. More»

Unemployment rate holds at 9.7%

(NEWSER) - A better-than-expected jobs report fueled a rally in stocks to close out the week. Nonfarm payrolls fell by 36,000 in February, far less than the predicted level of 75,000, the Wall Street Journal reports.

• The Dow gained 122.06 points to close at 10,566.20.
• The Nasdaq picked up 334.04, settling at 2,326.35.
• The S&P 500 added 15.72, closing at 1,138.69.

Dow off 170 midday on European credit woes

(NEWSER) - Stocks regained their opening levels after severe losses that saw the Dow off 170 points at midday today. Despite better-than-expected US employment figures, worries about the creditworthiness of some troubled European nations exerted downward pressure on stocks, the Wall Street Journal reports.

• The Dow Jones closed up 10.05 points at 10,012.23.
• The Nasdaq gained 15.69 to close at 2,141.12.
• The S&P 500 added 3.07 to settle at 1,066.18.

Stocks make gains for first trading week of 2010

(NEWSER) - Stocks spent most of the day down modestly but pulled up sharply at the close, as traders proved relatively unmoved by disappointing December unemployment figures, the Wall Street Journal reports.

• The Dow rose 11.33 points to close at 10,618.19.
• The Nasdaq added 17.12, closing at 2,317.17.
• The S&P 500 gained 3.29 to settle at 1,144.98.