NYSE

Stocks closed lower for a second day, dragged down by technology companies and concerns about Europe's debts. European finance ministers approved $110 billion in rescue loans to Portugal on Monday, but have yet to decide on another rescue package for Greece.

Nasdaq and IntercontinentalExchange are withdrawing their $11 billion bid for the New York Stock Exchange after recognizing that it wouldn't receive regulatory approval. The decision leaves the path open for NYSE Euronext to merge with the German exchange operator Deutsche Boerse.

Signs that Europe's debt troubles are larger than previously thought upended financial markets Friday, sending the dollar up nearly 1% and erasing the week's stock gains. Fears of a deepening financial crisis overshadowed reports that consumers are feeling more confident in the U.S. economy and that inflation remains in check.

A resilient performance by Japanese shares helped stocks in Europe and the U.S. Thursday, while the yen pulled back from a record high against the dollar amid expectations that finance chiefs from the world's industrialized nations will discuss how to ease the currency's rise.

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]

The fabled New York Stock Exchange isn't what it used to be. Today's NYSE Euronext has lost a huge volume of trading to upstart computerized exchanges in recent years, and scandals have tarnished its luster. Now, Germany's Deutsche Boerse wants to buy control of it. I say: "Sell!"

The frightening revelations over the past few days that hackers had penetrated certain systems at the Nasdaq stock exchange are reverberating throughout the financial world. Did cyber-crooks gain access to inside information that can used to reap ill-gotten gains?

Even the most bullish traders figure the market needs to pull back at some point before making new highs. Considering this week's round of earnings and economic data -- and the sketchy situation in Egypt -- the sessions ahead should offer ample opportunity for profit-taking. [Video]

Apple, BofA, Morgan Stanley, IBM, GE, Goldman and Google are among the names reporting this week. And if last week's numbers are any guide, the market should have plenty of reasons to rally -- especially because expectations aren't all that great.

The S&P 500 gained about 13% last year, but it didn't get much help while companies were releasing results. That index was unchanged or lower for all four of 2010's earnings seasons, and it could repeat this pattern now.