stock markets

The stock market finished one of the worst weeks of the year Friday, pushing Washington to work out a deal to avoid the tax increases and government spending cuts set to take effect Jan. 1.

Stocks slid on Wall Street Thursday, extending the sell-off that began the day before. The two-day slump came in the wake of Obama’s re-election to a second term as investors turned their focus back to Europe’s problems and the so-called fiscal cliff.

Investors dumped stocks Wednesday in the sharpest sell-off of the year. With the election only hours behind them, they focused on big problems ahead in Washington and across the Atlantic Ocean.

Stocks rose Tuesday as investors wait for a winner to be determined in the U.S. presidential election.

Stocks showed slight gains on Monday with uncertainty surrounding the election preventing most investors from making any big moves until it’s over.

Stocks rose in the morning Friday after the government reported a pickup in hiring last month, but the rally evaporated quickly as investors assessed the damage from Hurricane Sandy.

Strong economic data and corporate news converged Thursday to give U.S. stocks their best day since mid-September.

Investors were nervous Wednesday that a flood of orders after two days of pent-up demand from customers might lead to volatile trading. But stock prices barely budged at the opening, and stayed within a tight range throughout the day.

A strong profit report from Procter & Gamble helped indexes start higher early Thursday, but stocks weakened in late morning trading after a realtor group said that the pace of contracts for new home sales had leveled off.

Stocks stabilized on Wall Street Wednesday following Tuesday’s sell-off. Lower corporate revenue and expectations for the rest of the year drove the Dow down 243 points Tuesday, its third-biggest drop this year. DuPont, 3M, UPS and Xerox all reported lower sales than a year ago.

The Dow Jones industrial average plunged Tuesday to its lowest level in nearly seven weeks. Big-name companies reported weak quarterly revenue and lowered their forecasts for the rest of the year.

The U.S. stock market struggled for direction Monday. All three major indexes waffled between gains and losses before closing slightly higher. Investors were underwhelmed by earnings reports from toymaker Hasbro, clothing maker VF Corp., regional bank SunTrust and other companies.

Disappointing results from three giants of the Dow — Microsoft, General Electric and McDonald’s — were to blame for its 205-point drop Friday. The broader market fell, too; the Nasdaq lost 67 and the Standard & Poor’s 500 fell 24.

Google issued its earnings report ahead of schedule Thursday. Bleak figures in the report about online advertising dragged down Facebook stock, too, and the Nasdaq composite index skidded 1% on a day when the broader stock market was mostly flat.

The stock market edged up Wednesday following a stronger housing report. Also helping were better results from Mattel, Goldman Sachs, and Johnson & Johnson. For the week, the Dow is up 1.7% and the S&P 500 is up 2.3%.

Stocks shot higher Tuesday, giving the market its biggest gain in a month. Results at Mattel, Goldman Sachs, and Johnson & Johnson were all above expectations.

Stocks closed higher Monday after the the government reported that retail sales rose 1.1% in the U.S. last month. The Commerce Department also revised August growth up to 1.2%, marking the two largest gains since October 2010.

The big stock indexes were mixed on Friday. But they were all down more than 2% for the week. That was their worst weekly showing since the Standard & Poor’s 500 index fell 3% for the week ending June 1.

Stocks stalled on Thursday after starting with a rally. They were pulled down by jobless claims and disappointing news from Europe.

Downbeat reports from Alcoa and Chevron at the start of corporate earnings season pulled stock indexes lower for a third straight day Wednesday.

Stocks slid Tuesday after investors were discouraged by an International Monetary Fund report released overnight that said the global economy was weakening and the downturn afflicting developing nations has begun to spread.

Stocks closed lower Monday following news of a weak outlook for the third quarter as well as disappointing Asian growth reports. Slower growth in Asia could drag down the U.S. economy. One of the few bright points for the U.S. during the recession was tremendous growth in export demand by developing nations in Asia and other regions.

Stocks closed mixed on Friday after the U.S. unemployment rate declined to 7.8%, its first dip below 8% in nearly four years.

An encouraging report on the labor market and better sales from Costco and other retail stores helped push the stock market higher Thursday.

Stocks edged up Wednesday, but the market’s gains were held in check by a slump in energy stocks and Hewlett-Packard ‘s 13 percent plunge. In a meeting with analysts and investors, Meg Whitman, H-P’s CEO, predicted weak earnings and sales for the foreseeable future.

Indexes took a turn lower at midday Tuesday after Spain’s prime minister said that he’s not preparing a request for a bailout loan. Traders have been anticipating that the Spanish government would ask for help for nearly a month. Spain needs to ask for money from Europe’s bailout fund before the European Central Bank can start buying Spanish government bonds.

Stocks rose Monday after news that U.S. manufacturing grew in September for the first time in four months. Also Monday, the government said U.S. builders spent more on home construction in August, the latest positive sign for the housing market.

Many U.S. stocks followed global markets and headed lower Thursday following economic reports that continue to draw a picture of an economic recovery stuck in low gear.

Strong housing numbers drove the stock market a little higher Wednesday, but traders continue to worry about recent discouraging signals this week like downgrades of railroads and a warning from Federal Express that the global economy is slowing

Stocks ended mixed on Tuesday after FedEx said it sees a worldwide economy that has stalled. Investors pay close attention to the company’s forecasts because its package delivery business spans the globe and offers a window into how the economy is doing. FedEx reduced its fiscal-year profit forecast sharply because its customers used its express air delivery service less in favor of slower and cheaper ground service.

All three major indexes were down Monday, though barely. U.S. stocks are coming off a surge last week that sent the S&P 500 to its highest level in nearly five years.

Markets rallied around the world Friday in places where traders were getting their first chance to react to the Fed’s Thursday announcement of plans to try to energize the economy, including buying $40 billion a month in mortgage bonds for as long as necessary.

Stocks spiked Thursday in industries across the economy after the Fed said it would buy $40 billion of mortgage securities a month until the economy improves. It left open the possibilities of buying other assets and of buying long after the recovery picks up.

U.S. stocks rose Tuesday in advance of a Federal Reserve meeting and a court decision on whether Germany can help support its struggling neighbors.

Mixed economic data kept the stock market hovering near break-even Tuesday. One report on home prices looked encouraging, and another on consumer confidence was worrisome.

Stocks barely moved. Trading was light, even by the slumberous standards of August. Investors — those who weren’t on vacation — killed time waiting for a speech by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke later this week.

Stocks opened lower Friday but reversed course after a letter surfaced from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke suggesting there was room for the central bank to do more to help the economy.

On Thursday, the government reported that claims for unemployment insurance rose last week, the second straight increase, which hurt stocks.

Stocks climbed back from lows after minutes from the last major Fed meeting were released Wednesday. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index, down most of the day, eked out a gain of 0.32 point to 1,413.49.

Talk that the European Central Bank may buy struggling countries’ bonds sent the S&P 500 up Tuesday, but fell back by the end of trading.