Stocks edge lower as bull market enters 3rd year

NEW YORK (AP) — The two-year anniversary of the fastest bull market since the 1950s ended on a down note. Stocks dipped Wednesday as crude oil prices hovered near $104 a barrel, continuing a three-week run of high prices that economists say could slow the …

Stocks soar, oil prices dip

NEW YORK (AP) — Financial companies pushed stock indexes higher Tuesday on signs that banks may soon raise their dividends.

Bank of America Corp. gained 4.7 percent, the most of the 30 stocks that make up the Dow Jones industrial average, after chief executive Brian …

Stocks edge lower as oil prices spike again

Stocks fell Monday, giving up earlier gains, as higher oil prices weighed on the market. Oil hit a two-year high early in the day, nearing $107 a barrel, but pulled back slightly by mid-morning.

Stocks close with big gains as hope builds for job recovery

Stocks rose sharply on Thursday after an unexpected drop in new applications for unemployment benefits and strong retail sales. The Dow Jones industrial average had its biggest gain since Dec. 1.

The Labor Department said first-time claims for unemployment benefits fell to 368,000. That’s the …

Stocks edge higher on jobs news, Fed survey

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are closing slightly higher after a surprisingly strong report on hiring by private companies raised hopes that the job market may be improving. Trading was choppy as oil prices rose to $102 per barrel. Payroll processor ADP said companies added …

Stocks rise on economic reports

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are finishing with small gains after stronger-than-expected economic news and a jump in January retail sales. Consumer discretionary companies in the S&P; 500 index gained 1.2 percent after chains reported sales nearly double what analysts forecast. Costco Wholesale and Gap …

Stocks mixed day after Dow tops 12,000

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks were mixed Wednesday, a day after the Dow Jones industrial average closed at its highest level in two and a half years. “The market seems to be catching its breath after that strong run Tuesday,” said Alan Gayle, senior investment …

Earnings push stocks to 2 and half year highs

Better than expected earnings reports and a lift in the manufacturing sector sent the stock market to two and half year highs Tuesday.

Energy stocks push major indexes higher

NEW YORK (AP) — Energy companies drove major indexes higher Monday after Alpha Natural Resources made a bid for rival coal producer Massey Energy and Exxon Mobil reported strong earnings. Alpha offered $7.1 billion in cash and stock for Massey and the nation’s fourth-largest coal …

World markets sink as protests escalate in Egypt

Escalating protests in Egypt jarred world financial markets today. Stocks fell while the dollar, Treasurys and gold rose as investors sought to reduce their exposure to risk.

The Egyptian government’s response to escalating street protests unnerved investors. The military was deployed in an effort to …

Stocks edge higher after mixed earnings reports

NEW YORK (AP) — A surprise jump in applications for unemployment benefits and mixed earnings from large U.S. companies kept stocks on a short leash Thursday. Indexes ended slightly higher, with the Standard & Poor’s 500 closing a half point below 1,300.

The Dow Jones …

Dow average falls back after hitting 12,000

The Dow Jones industrial average broke through 12,000 for the first time in two and a half years Wednesday, but a late fade kept it from closing above that level. The index of 30 prominent U.S. companies finished the day with a modest gain. Weak profit forecasts from Boeing Co. and Xerox Corp. weighed on the market. Boeing fell 3 percent after saying its 2011 profits would be hurt by production delays. Xerox fell 8 percent after saying its profit margins were not increasing. The Dow gained 8.25 points, or 0.1 percent, to end at 11,985.4. It reached as high

Stocks flat ending as earnings from blue chips disappoint

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are ending flat after a round of disappointing corporate earnings and another drop in home prices. 3M and Johnson & Johnson fell about 2 percent after announcing lower income for the last quarter. Prices fell in 19 out of the …

Intel, technology companies drive up stocks

NEW YORK (AP) — Technology stocks rose Monday after Intel Corp. raised its quarterly dividend and said it would buy back more of its stock. The news sent Intel’s stock up 1.6 percent to $21.14. Another technology company, graphics chip maker Nvidia Corp., was the …

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