Dow Up 21 After Rally Loses Steam

(NEWSER) - Stocks slid at the open, as Citigroup slashed jobs and retailers reported yet more disappointing results. The Dow lost 160 points, while the S&P and Nasdaq dropped 1.8% and 1.5% respectively. Among the big drops were Target and Lowe’s, which each took a 24% hit to their third-quarter nets. Target shares dipped 3%, while Lowe's plunged 34%. More»

Third-quarter reports detail suffering across the board

(NEWSER) - Stocks continued yesterday’s decline amid a wave of poor earnings reports across the board, the Wall Street Journal reports. The Dow, down at one point nearly 700 points in the final hour, fell 514.45 to close at 8,519.21. The Nasdaq shed 80.93 points, closing at 1,615.75, and the S&P 500 slid 58.27 points to 896.78, its lowest close in 5 years. More»

Expectations for Caterpillar, AmEx earnings boost Dow

(NEWSER) - Stocks rallied today on expectations for this week’s earnings reports, with the Dow rising 96.28 points to hit a new 2009 high of 10,092.19. Caterpillar, which reports tomorrow, gained 6.5% after saying it would raise prices. American Express, which reports Thursday, gained 2.6%. Traders were cautiously optimistic about Apple, which reported better-than-projected results after the bell: its stock rose 1%. The Nasdaq gained 19.52 to close at 2,176.32, and the S&P 500 added 10.23 to close at 1,097.91, the Wall Street Journal reports. More»

(NEWSER) - Good earnings reports and stellar performance by General Electric had markets at 2009 highs for a time today, the Wall Street Journal reports. “We have gotten so close to the S&P 1,000 level, you just sort of sense that unless there’s a horrible GDP number tomorrow, we’re going to have to go up and challenge this thing,” a strategist says. The Dow was up 83.74 to 9,154.46. The S&P gained 11.60 to end at 986.75. And the Nasdaq rose 16.54 to 1,984.30. More»

Amazon, Microsoft fall after weak earnings

(NEWSER) - The tech sector exerted downward pressure on stocks today, snapping the Nasdaq’s 12-day winning streak, the Wall Street Journal reports. Microsoft sank 8.9% after reporting a 29% drop in quarterly earnings, while Amazon fell 8.3% after also reporting a disappointing quarter. Alcoa, Pfizer, and Merck helped the Dow climb with modest advances. The Dow gained 23.95 points to close at 9,093.24. The Nasdaq lost 7.64, settling at 1,965.96, and the S&P 500 added 2.97, closing at 979.26. More»