stock markets

In the wake of a tax compromise that stalled in the House Thursday, stocks closed mixed after edging higher in the morning.

Stocks ended flat Tuesday after a rally when President Barack Obama and Republican leaders agreed to a broad package of tax cuts and an extension of unemployment benefits.

Caution from Fed Chairman Bernanke sends stock indexes lower on Monday.

Stocks recovered ground Friday after a weak employment report. Materials and energy companies led the rebound.

A jump in holiday retail sales pushes stocks higher Thursday. Major retailers reported sales in November that were stronger than analysts expected. Increased spending during the holiday season would be a strong signal that consumers are feeling more confident.

An encouraging employment report and hopes that Europe’s debt crisis may ease boosted major indexes on Wednesday, erasing nearly two weeks of losses.

Stocks pared their losses Tuesday on optimism over a plan to extend Bush-era tax cuts.

Stocks dipped Monday after the euro fell to a two-month low as investors flocked to the safety of the dollar and U.S. Treasurys.

Stocks sank during Friday’s shortened session as European stock markets and the euro fell as worries mounted that Portugal will be the next country to need cash from other European Union countries, even as details of Ireland’s bailout were being worked out.

Stock markets closed sharply higher on positive economic data Wednesday, including news that incomes rose last month and consumer spending climbed for a fifth month.

After North Korea and South Korea exchanged artillery fire, killing at least two South Korean marines, the stock market reacted uneasily.

Stocks ended Monday mixed following the Ireland bailout and FBI raid on offices of two hedge funds as part of a broad insider trading probe.

After China took more steps to curb inflation, which traders fear could slow down the country’s growth, stocks ended Friday up.

Stocks jump as worries over Ireland ease. Shares of the new GM rose almost 4%.

Stocks end mixed after four days of losses. Global stock markets have been rattled over the past week out of fear that Ireland will become the latest European country to need a bailout.

Stocks sank Tuesday on Asian inflation and Euro debt fears.

The rising value of the dollar, which hurts U.S. exports, resulted in stocks paring their gains. A weaker dollar benefits companies like Caterpillar Inc and Boeing that rely heavily on exports.

Stocks and oil prices dropped Friday on China inflation worries.

Stocks sank as Cisco’s outlook disappoints. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 73.94, or 0.7%, to close at 11,283.10, after trading down as much as 126 earlier in the day. The index fell for three out of the last four sessions.

Major indexes were down for much of Wednesday but managed to edge higher by late afternoon. A report showing a sharp decline in first-time claims for unemployment benefits helped support stock prices. A jump in oil prices lifted shares of energy companies including Chevron Corp. and ConocoPhillips.

Stocks and bonds stumble while commodities soar on Tuesday.

Stocks have risen in recent weeks on better-than-expected corporate earnings reports and the introduction of a bond-buying program by the Federal Reserve that is intended to stimulate the economy by driving interest rates lower and encouraging spending. On Monday, however, stocks fell as the rally runs out of steam.

Stocks rapidly lost momentum Friday, despite a report from the Labor Department showing that employers added 151,000 jobs last month, the first gain since May and far more than analysts had anticipated.

Stocks indexes set new highs for the year, a day after the Federal Reserve announced it plans to buy $600 billion in bonds in an effort to spur spending and ultimately lower the unemployment rate.

Stocks posted modest gains after the Federal Reserve announced details of its plan to stimulate the economy.

Major stock indexes rose Tuesday as investors awaited the results of Congressional elections, putting the Dow Jones industrial average near its highest point of the year.

Stocks closed mixed Monday as traders waited for this week’s election results and more details about the Federal Reserve’s plan to stimulate the economy.