dow jones

Thursday's panicked stock sell-off could be the start of the fourth great market plunge in a decade. But it could also present some real opportunities. So stay calm, and stay ready.

The Dow stands at an 18-month high, but volume remains scant. Earnings season, which Alcoa kicks off after Monday's close, appears to be just what's needed to firm up sentiment. But don't be surprised if, once again, investors sell on the news of strong results.

Some of Tuesday's best online stories for investors, including another penny stock scam, analyzing the recent jobs report, and why this Dow 11,000 is different from previous ones.

Stocks closed broadly lower Wednesday after Fitch Ratings cut Portugal's sovereign debt rating a notch and warned of further possible downgrades. A record-low reading on new homes sales also weighed on equities even as the manufacturing sector continued to recover.

Stocks charged higher Tuesday, hitting a 17-month high. But volume, the so-called weapon of the bull, continues to run low, raising the question: Is this rally running out of buyers?

Stocks held on to gains as the Fed left its key lending rate unchanged and on better-than-expected news from economic reports on housing starts and import prices. The S&P500 continued its climb, finishing at a 17-month high set in October 2008, at 1,159.46, up 8.95 points.

Analysts suggest a minor market correction may be underway as continued negative reaction to President Obama's bank plan and other news reports caused the Dow to suffer a third straight triple-digit setback. The downward trend is expected to continue into next week.

The recent seesaw activity in the stock market has prompted some analysts to suggest investors may be overreacting to financial news. After marching more than 115 points higher on Tuesday, the Dow Jones Industrial average fell more than 122 points in Wednesday's market sell-off.

Stock indexes rose Thursday as a jump in exports offset concerns about an increase in weekly unemployment claims. A weaker dollar is lifting demand for U.S. goods, which become less expensive for foreign buyers when the greenback falls. The Commerce Department said a rise in exports helped narrow...

Slumping financial shares pulled the stock market mostly lower Monday after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's prediction that interest rates will remain low failed to galvanize investors. Stocks initially rose Monday afternoon after Bernanke said that forces like unemployment and tight credit...