Stories related to: stock market

Stocks roared back today after their initial slide, with the Dow ending up nearly 300  points as markets closed after plunging more than 300 points when they opened. Still, recession fears are far from banished. "The broader issues that are troubling this market are going to be with us," a broker told the Wall Street Journal . The Dow ended up 298.98 to 12,270.17, the Nasdaq up 24.82 to 2,317.09, and the S&P up 28.10 to 1,338.60. More »

Stocks continued their downward march today, with the Dow off 139.41 points by midmorning, up from a 228.75-point dive at the opening bell.  Seeming to shrug off yesterday’s huge emergency rate cut from the Fed, investors are acting on fears of recession, and focusing on disappointing earnings from Apple and Motorola. The S&P and Nasdaq were down 17.10 and 41.89 points respectively, the Wall Street Journal reports. More »

Despite reporting record-high earnings, Apple saw its stocks fall more than 11% after the market closed today, the New York Times reports. Apple's lowered 2nd quarter earning expectations may have sparked the drop, analysts say, unless investors are anxious about the high-end electronics market in general as the US economy slows down. More »

If you’re watching today’s economic news with trepidation, financial experts want you to take a deep breath. “This is not the beginning of the end,” said one analyst. “If you’re going to invest in stocks, this kind of volatility comes with the territory.” Instead of selling with the crowd, analysts suggest you keep funding your 401k and paying down debt, MarketWatch reports. More »

Amid continuing concerns about a US recession, European stocks took their biggest single-day plunge since 9/11 today, reports MarketWatch. Losses from financial institutions appeared to be the biggest culprit in the day's 5.4% drop, which added to a crippling trend: The Dow Jones Stoxx 600 index has dropped 23% since mid-2007. On American shores, Dow futures dropped, sparking fears of a nosedive tomorrow. More »

Stocks ended slightly down today partly in response to falling oil prices, which could provide a possible jump-start for consumer spending, the Wall Street Journal reports. "Considering that oil was near $100 not too long ago, this is a big move," one trader said. The Dow ended down 34.95 to 12,466.16, the Nasdaq 23.00 to 2,394.59, and the S&P 7.75 to 1,373.20. More »

Stocks plunged today on news of Citigroup's big losses and surprisingly poor retail numbers. This is the worst start to a year by the S&P 500 since 1978, reports Bloomberg. "There seems to be no end of bad news,'' says one exec. The Dow was down 277.04 to 12,501.11, the Nasdaq 60.71 to 2,417.59, and the S&P 35.3 to 1,380.95. More »

Stocks surged today, propelled by hopes for an interest rate cut and expectation-busting fourth-quarter results from IBM. "The Fed has a very hard job right now, but I think the market is saying it thinks they are up to the task," a trading exec told the Wall Street Journal. The Dow jumped 171.85 to 12,778.15, the Nasdaq 38.36 to 2,478.30, and the S&P 500 15.23 to 1,416.25. More »

Stocks moved higher today, boosted by the first upward bump in tech shares in seven days. Meanwhile, Berkshire Hathaway said it might invest in municipal bond insurers, Bloomberg reports. The company is "looking at ways to support the existing insurers in terms of reinsurance and capital," one exec said. The Dow was up 146.24 to 12,735.31, the Nasdaq 34.04 to 2,474.55, and the S&P 18.94 to 1,409.13. More »

Microsoft solidified its plans to purchase Fast Search & Transfer today with a $1.2 billion offer, roughly a 42% premium over the Norwegian enterprise search company's Friday closing price. The news drove Microsoft shares down today to $34.20, a 1.2% drop, while Fast shares rose nearly 41%, approaching Microsoft's offer price, Red Herring reports. More »

Stocks plunged today as financials dragged down the markets. Countrywide reeled despite releasing statements denying it was preparing to file for bankruptcy protection. "You can't really have a healthy market without healthy financials," a trader told the Wall Street Journal . The Dow was down 238.42 to 12,589.07, the Nasdaq 58.95 to 2,440.51, and the S&P 500 25.99 to 1,390.19. More »

The markets suffered steep losses today following the one-two punch of bad news from Pakistan and the Commerce Department. In the wake of Benazir Bhutto’s assassination and a disappointing durable goods report, the Dow fell 192.08, the largest drop in a week, to 13,359.61, while the Nasdaq plummeted 47.62 to 2,676.79 and the S&P 500 fell 21.39 to 1,476.27. More »

Blackberry maker Research in Motion is seeing its sales and profits soar, CNN reports. Third-quarter results show revenue has doubled from a year ago and the Canadian company looks set to end the year on a high. Much of the growth is credited to Blackberry use expanding beyond its corporate base and into the hands of mainstream consumers. More »

Stocks plunged today after the Fed cut a key interest rate by only a quarter-point, Bloomberg reports. Investors who had hoped for a half-point fear the smaller cut won't do enough to stave off a recession. "They're thinking that the Fed doesn't get it," said a strategist. The Dow fell 294.26 to 13,432.77, the Nasdaq 66.6 to 2,652.35, and the S&P 500 38.31 to 1,477.65. More »

Stocks kept climbing today as investors held out for a nearly certain rate cut at tomorrow's Fed meeting. A positive housing report and mostly good news from financials also helped keep things bullish. "Everybody is paying attention to tomorrow's rate" cut, a trader told the Wall Street Journal. The Dow was up 101.45 to 13,727.03, the Nasdaq rose 12.79 to 2,718.95, and the S&P 500 climbed 11.3 to 1,515.96. More »

Stocks leaped again today after the Treasury Department's plan to freeze some mortgage rates eased fears of a recession. Investors also continue to expect that the Fed will cut interest rates on Dec. 11, the Wall Street Journal reports. The Dow was up 174.93 to 13,619.89, the Nasdaq 42.67 to 2,709.03, and the S&P 22.33 to 1,507.34. More »

Stocks took off today in response to cheerful economic data and rising hopes for a Dec. 11 rate cut from the Fed. Government reports showed an increase in productivity and an unexpected jump in hiring, the Wall Street Journal reports. The Dow was up 196.23 to 13,444.96, the Nasdaq up 46.53 to 2,666.36, and the S&P up 22.22 to 1,485.01. More »

Stocks fell again today after JPMorgan Chase predicted that profits would drop at big brokerages. Meanwhile, lower oil prices lowered earning prospects for energy companies, reports Bloomberg. "Until credit loosens up, you can't get a solid footing in the market," says a manager. The Dow was down 65.84 to 13,248.73, the Nasdaq 17.3 to 2,619.83, and the S&P 500 9.63 to 1,462.79. More »

The famously frenetic NYSE trading floor is rapidly becoming history as more efficient computer trading replaces human traders. With most of the exchange's trading rooms shuttered, only two trading halls stay open to the 1,500 remaining traders, whose numbers are dwindling, AFP reports. "The floor as we knew it is dead," says one expert. More »

Markets waffled for most of today's session and ended slightly up, after a big dip in the morning. "We've had an awful lot of upside, and [stocks] are entitled to some rest," one strategist tells the Wall Street Journal. The Dow was up 22.28 to 13311.73, the Nasdaq was up 5.22 to 2668.13, and the S&P was up 0.70 to 1469.72. More »