After a rough opening session on Monday, stocks rebounded sharply on Tuesday. The Dow enjoyed a triple-digit gain after oil prices eased and bank shares bounced higher on the possibility of further dividend payouts and share buybacks.
Increasing violence in Libya caused oil prices to rise and stocks to fall 80 points to close at 12,090 on Monday. It didn't help that a Wells Fargo analyst also downgraded the semiconductor industry, sending shares of Intel down by 1.6%.
During a volatile week, stocks bounced between Mideast turmoil and generally strong economic reports. Even with the jobless rate's surprising drop, equities ended on a down note. Still, stocks eked out a tiny overall gain on the week. [Video]
The first trading day of the month is usually good to equities, but after a two-day respite, stocks went back back to broad-based declines. The sharp rise in oil prices overshadowed some encouraging corporate and economic news.
It was a rough (even if short) week on Wall Street. But at least the Dow ended higher after losing more than 300 points in the previous three days. Some month-end bargain-hunting also helped stem the slide. [Video]
Stocks fell again on Wednesday, and oil prices briefly crossed the $100-a-barrel mark after violence escalated in Libya. Oil traders are spooked about the possible spread of turmoil. Tech bellwether HP's disappointing outlook also hurt.
The Dow suffered a steep triple-digit loss Tuesday as turmoil in Libya ignited a global sell-off in stocks. Oil prices rose sharply, as did safe-haven assets such as Treasurys and the dollar. Disappointing news from Walmart didn't help matters.
Stocks closed broadly if modestly higher Friday on light volume as traders avoided making any big bets ahead of a long holiday weekend. The equity markets closed up for the third straight day and extended their winning ways to a third consecutive week.
Last week, traders had ample opportunity to take some profits -- and yet the market kept rising. With fewer big reports on tap this week and a key technical hurdle overcome, stocks could very well extend their gains in the sessions ahead. [Video]
Wicked winter weather played havoc with the government's employment situation resulting in an inconclusive jobs report on Friday. Still, stocks ended the week higher. But how much longer can stocks continue to gain?
Stocks fell sharply Friday as investors fled to safety amid disappointing economic data, mixed corporate earnings reports and escalating violence in Egypt. A soft start for equities only got worse as the day progressed. [Video]
Better-than-expected earnings from General Electric helped lift the Dow and S&P 500. The Nasdaq closed lower after disappointing results from chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices. Overall, the week's strong earnings bode well for coming corporate reports.
Stocks ended the week on a positive note despite economic reports that fell short of expectations. But Cort Gwon of FBN Securities says there was lots to cheer about as fears over the debt crisis in Europe lessened and U.S. companies announced stellar earnings.
Stocks closed broadly higher Wednesday after Portugal's government had no trouble in tapping global debt markets, helping ease European debt fears. The euro gained at the dollar's expense, which lifted a broad basket of commodities as well as U.S. equities.
This week was all about jobs reports, and after December's employment numbers fell short of expectations, stocks ended the first week of trading in 2011 on a down note. Kenny Polcari, managing director at ICAP Corporates explains from the New York Stock Exchange.
Wall Street started the new year with a robust jump, helped by encouraging corporate and economic news that pushed the broad market to a 28-month high. The S&P 500 has now reclaimed nearly 90% of its losses from the bear-market bottom of March 2009.
Trading came to a quiet end on the Thursday before Christmas as stocks closed mostly lower on especially light volume. A spate of economic reports was similarly mixed, with jobless claims and income improving a bit, but home sales and durable goods falling a little short.
Stocks closed broadly higher Tuesday, helped by more deal activity in the financial sector and upbeat earnings from the tech sector. After more than two years, the market has regained all its losses following the implosion of Lehman Brothers in September 2008.
Stocks closed modestly mixed on light volume Friday in the last full trading week of the year, which marked the third week in a row of overall gains. While drugmakers Pfizer and Merck put a damper on the Dow, robust earnings from Oracle and Research In Motion helped lift tech stocks.
Traders face plenty of economic news this week, and considering how much the market has risen, it could be time for a bit of a pullback. But at least one trader thinks that's just what's needed to create a base for further gains ahead. [Video]
Stocks closed a bit higher after flitting around breakeven on light trading for much of the day. Financials outperformed, while commodities suffered. Treasury bond yields hit their highest intraday level since June. End-of-year strangeness?
The stock market's powerful two-day rally nearly fizzled out Friday after the unemployment rate unexpectedly jumped to 9.8%. But traders managed to find a silver lining even in that grim news, and stocks found a way to eke out a gain.
The Dow jumped skyward on Wednesday as stocks rallied around the globe on a stream of strong economic news, both abroad and in the U.S. A less anxious outlook for European sovereign debt also helped.
Stocks fell sharply Tuesday as investors fled riskier assets following an exchange of artillery fire between North and South Korea. Better news on U.S. economic growth was no match for the new worries, on top of Euro-jitters.
Stocks closed slightly higher Friday after fluctuating most of the session as some better-than-expected quarterly earnings helped offset anxiety over China's move to curb inflation.
On Thursday, stocks clawed back nearly of the week's prior losses. Lifting investors' spirits were an easing of concerns over Irish debt, GM's massive IPO and some surprisingly positive economic reports.
The Dow tumbled Tuesday as part of a global sell-off in stocks fueled by further speculation that China will hike interest rates to fight inflation and renewed worries over the wobbly finances of Ireland, Portugal and Greece.
Stocks and commodities fell sharply Friday amid anxiety that China will hike interest rates to keep its economy from overheating. The Dow flirted with a triple-digit loss. Gold and oil prices likewise plunged.
Stocks closed slightly higher Friday despite the best jobs report in months, as a six-session rally that has taken the market to a two-year high was due for a breather. The Dow finished up nine points, while the S&P was up five. [VIDEO]