McDonalds Supersizes Indexes

(NEWSER) - Stocks surged today on positive data about personal income, manufacturing, and the long-awaited announcement of General Motors’ bankruptcy. “There is a positive, relief reaction to this filing,” one analyst told the Wall Street Journal. “It’s been hanging over all of our heads.” Energy and construction stocks also saw big bumps. The Dow was up 221.11 to 8,721.44. The S&P gained 23.73, ending at 942.87. And the Nasdaq rose 54.35 to 1,828.68. More»

(NEWSER) - Stocks shot higher at the open this morning, as rising oil prices and strong manufacturing data from China outweighed news of GM's bankruptcy. The Dow rose 102 points; as of next Monday, the index will no longer include GM and Citigroup. The Nasdaq and S&P were each up 1.3%. Oil rose more than $2 to $68, driven in part by China’s announcement that industrial activity would increase for the third straight month. More»

(NEWSER) - Stocks headed higher at the open today, after a pair of promising economic reports. The Dow added 75 points, while the Nasdaq and S&P rose 1.1% and 1% respectively. Durable goods orders rose 1.9% last month, and new jobless claims fell 13,000 last week; both numbers beat analyst estimates. Trading was halted on GM shares, after bondholders struck a new deal with the company. More»

(NEWSER) - A bad Case-Shiller number helped push stocks lower at the open, with the Dow down 37 points, and the Nasdaq and S&P down 0.4% and 0.5% respectively. Home prices fell more than 10% year-over-year in 15 of the 20 major metropolitan areas monitored by the Case-Shiller index, reports the Wall Street Journal. Traders are also nervous about North Korea’s missile tests. GM shares were down 20%, as it faces what is expected to be its last pre-bankruptcy week. More»

(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»