Stocks closed higher Friday for the seventh time in the last eight sessions, helped by fewer jobless claims and a stronger-than-expected reading on wholesale inventories and sales. Volume was especially light at the end of the holiday- shortened trading week.
After suffering its worst August in nearly a decade, the blue-chip Dow found a welcome way to put summer behind it. But don't be disappointed if last week's market euphoria fails to carry into this week and beyond.
A slew of economic reports due out this week could push already battered stocks even lower. What's worse, the week leading up to Labor Day is historically unkind to the markets.
Stocks posted big gains Friday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising 1.7%, after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke assured the nation that the Fed is ready to step in.
A record plunge in existing-homes sales last month sent equity investors skittering toward safety Tuesday, pushing the Dow to a triple-digit loss. The Dow fell 1.3% to finish at 10,039.
If it feels like stocks haven't gone anywhere in months, well, that's because they haven't. Traders in New York say there's good reason for the late summer doldrums, though a change in sentiment may arrive with the cooler weather.
Stocks closed mixed Friday on vapor-light volume amid anxiety over the pace of the economic recovery. The Dow fell 58 points to close at 10,213, while the broader S&P 500 slipped four points to 1,072.
Just a week ago, better-than-expected earnings sent stocks soaring. But this week, renewed worries from the Fed about the U.S. economic recovery led the forces pushing stocks down about 375 points over a three-day period.
Despite some big gains lately, the market has been range-bound for months, with the S&P 500 turning positive for 2010 only on Tuesday. What can shake this torpor? If history is any guide, the coming midterm elections.
So far so good for second-quarter earnings season. But if stocks have any hope of breaking out of their range-bound rut, the market will need proof of an uptrend in hiring, one expert says.
Blue-chip earnings and an improvement in consumer sentiment helped stocks shrug off disappointing economic growth to end mixed Friday -- but the market still enjoyed its biggest monthly gain in a year.
The first peak week of reports was just what the market ordered, thanks to some beat-and-raise results from Dow blue chips. This week has more big names on tap. And again, jittery investors will be looking closely, especially for revenue growth. [With video]
News that most European banks appear adequately capitalized to weather further credit strains gave the market a late-day lift Friday. The Dow and Nasdaq are now at breakeven for 2010, while the S&P 500 is off 1%.
Stocks vaulted higher Tuesday as industrial bellwethers Alcoa and CSX reassured the market about the pace of the economic recovery. All three major averages extended their winning streaks.
The major averages rallied sharply Wednesday with the blue-chip Dow closing up 274 points, fueled by a rosier earnings forecast from money manager State Street Corp. and anticipation of strong monthly retail sales reports on Thursday.
Stocks took an uncomfortably circuitous route to posting broad-based gains Tuesday, as a better-than-expected outlook on global recovery from Australia's central bank was tested by the bond market's bleaker assessment of the U.S. economy.
Stocks closed broadly lower Friday after the latest unemployment and factory reports added to the evidence supporting a sluggish U.S. recovery. Light volume going into the July 4th holiday weekend means next week's trading will be more telling.
The stock market ended the second quarter with a whimper Wednesday as all three major averages collapsed late in the session. It was a fitting end to a lousy three months and first-half for stocks.
A surprise plunge in consumer confidence sent U.S. stocks to the year's lowest close, with the blue-chip Dow down well below 10,000. Again. With the report coming after bad news in Asia and Europe, U.S. equities never had a chance.
Stocks opened broadly lower Tuesday, hurt by a weak reading on May housing construction and a tepid forecast from economic bellwether FedEx.
Stocks have been volatile lately but they haven't really gone anywhere in six months as the market searches for direction. It's a process that could take all summer long to work out.
The Dow jumped more than 270 points to close solidly above 10,000 Thursday as encouraging economic data out of China and a soothing growth forecast from the European Central Bank once again whetted traders' appetite for risk.
Some gutsy investors have started bargain hunting anyway for quality stocks that have been casualties during the plunge. Shares of Apple fit the bill.
Buyers filled the breach Friday, lifting stocks after a dismal week. Regarding the worries over Europe's mega-bailout plan, TARP at first sparked similar jitters here before stocks rebounded. But U.S. conditions are also raising concerns now.
Seasick investors may need some Dramamine this week: A deluge of earnings and economic reports promises more volatility. But the biggest market-moving waves will keep coming from Europe's financial crisis.
For the average investor, the market's jarring movements this week left many sitting on the sidelines. But for traders, the market's wild swings were welcome news.
Another wild day as the Dow lost another 140 points and all three major averages turned negative for the year. Jittery traders continued to flee equities amid anxiety that Greece's debt woes could turn into a full-blown credit crisis.
The Dow heads into the peak of earnings season with an eight-week winning streak on the line, something the blue-chip index hasn't done since 2004. It could be strenuously tested in the coming days.