Australian (ASX) Stock Market Forum

NYSE Dow Jones finished today at:

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com

For the week, the Dow lost 2 percent, its third straight weekly drop. The S&P 500 index fell 2.3 percent and the Nasdaq dropped 1.7 percent.

Stock plunge to 4-month low on disappointing employment report and drop in euro; Dow falls 323

Stocks fell to their lowest level in four months Friday after the government said hiring remains weak and another European country warned its economy was in trouble.

The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 323 points to close below 10,000. It was the lowest finish since February and the third-worst slide of the year.

Major indexes all lost more than 3 percent. The drop pushed the market back into "correction" mode, meaning a decline of at least 10 percent from a recent high.

The NYSE DOW closed LOWER -323.31 points -3.15% on Friday June 4
Sym. Last......... ........Change..........
Dow 9,931.97 -323.31 -3.15%
Nasdaq 2,219.17 -83.86 -3.64%
S&P 500 1,064.88 -37.95 -3.44%
30-yr Bond 4.1190% -1.6900


NYSE Volume 7,318,019,000 (prior day 5,709,877,000)
Nasdaq Volume 2,350,037,500 (prior day 2,206,732,250)


Europe
Symbol.... Last...... .....Change.......
FTSE 100 5,126.00 -85.18 -1.63%
DAX 5,938.88 -115.75 -1.91%
CAC 40 3,455.61 -101.73 -2.86%


Asia
Symbol...... Last...... .....Change.......
Nikkei 225 9,901.19 -13.00 -0.13%
Hang Seng 19,780.07 -6.64 -0.03%

Straits Times 2,806.51 +13.04 +0.47%

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Disap...4.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=1&asset=&ccode=

Disappointing jobs report sends stocks sliding

Stock plunge to 4-month low on disappointing employment report and drop in euro; Dow falls 323


Stephen Bernard, AP Business Writer, On Friday June 4, 2010, 6:05 pm

NEW YORK (AP) -- Stocks fell to their lowest level in four months Friday after the government said hiring remains weak and another European country warned its economy was in trouble.

The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 323 points to close below 10,000. It was the lowest finish since February and the third-worst slide of the year.

Major indexes all lost more than 3 percent. The drop pushed the market back into "correction" mode, meaning a decline of at least 10 percent from a recent high.

Interest rates slid after traders shoveled money into the safety of Treasurys and the dollar.

Retailers were among the hardest-hit stocks after investors bet that a weak job market would discourage consumers from spending. Macy's fell 6.5 percent. Financial stocks also fell sharply on concerns that borrowers would continue having problems paying their bills. Banks were hurt by more worries about their exposure to Europe's debt crisis. American Express lost 5.3 percent.

The government's May jobs report came as an unpleasant surprise for investors who had grown a little more upbeat about the domestic economy the past few days. The Labor Department said private employers hired just 41,000 workers in May, down dramatically from 218,000 in April and the lowest number since January. The news made it clear that the economic recovery isn't yet picking up the momentum that investors have been looking for.

The government said 431,000 jobs overall were created last month, but most of those them, 411,000, came from government hiring of temporary census workers. The overall number also fell short of expectations. Economists polled by Thomson Reuters had forecast employers would add 513,000 jobs.

"People are looking for one turning point," Daniel Penrod, senior industry analyst for the California Credit Union League, said of the monthly jobs report. "That's not realistic. This growth will be much slower and more gradual than in the past."

The unemployment rate fell to 9.7 percent from 9.9 percent in April. That was slightly better than the 9.8 percent unemployment rate economists had forecast.

The jobs report was the latest during the week to signal that the economy isn't as robust as hoped.

"It's almost as if the worst fears of the market were realized, at least in this one report," said Richard Sparks, senior equities analyst at Schaeffer's Investment Research.

The slowdown in hiring last month cast more doubt on how much consumers will be able to pick up their spending. A day earlier, retailers reported sluggish sales for May. Stocks of clothing retailers were among the big losers after the jobs report as traders bet shoppers would stick to buying necessities.

Credit card companies and regional banks also fell sharply.

Meanwhile, the spokesman for Hungary's new prime minister described the country's economy as being in a "grave" situation. He also said his government is ready to avoid a crisis like the one being faced by Greece, which had to be bailed out by the European Union. Spain and Portugal are also struggling.

The Dow fell 323.31, or 3.2 percent, to 9,931.97, its steepest drop since May 20. All 30 stocks that make up the index fell.

It was the Dow's third drop of more than 300 points this year, all of which occurred in the last month. The Dow is now down 11.4 percent from its 2010 peak of 11,205, which it reached on April 26.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 37.95, or 3.4 percent, to 1,064.88. The index is down 12.5 percent from its 2010 high.

The Nasdaq composite index dropped 83.86, or 3.6 percent, to 2,219.17. It's down 12.3 percent from its high of the year.

Fewer than 300 of the nearly 3,000 stocks that trade on the New York Stock Exchange rose. Consolidated volume came to 6.3 billion shares compared with 5 billion Thursday.

Only three of the stocks in the S&P 500 index rose: Cephalon Inc., Frontier Communications Corp. and People's United Financial Inc.

For the week, the Dow lost 2 percent, its third straight weekly drop. The S&P 500 index fell 2.3 percent and the Nasdaq dropped 1.7 percent.

Investors moved money into safe investments including Treasurys because of the weak employment report and the faltering euro. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note, which moves opposite its price, fell to 3.21 percent from 3.37 percent late Thursday. The yield on the 10-year note is often used as a benchmark for consumer loans and mortgages.

Analysts say there is little in the way of economic news that could shake the market from its funk.

"It's hard to see over the next month what will make stocks rally," said Paul Zemsky, head of asset allocation at ING Investment Management in New York. It might not be until next month's employment report that investors get the kind of positive news that could propel stocks higher, he said.

Investors are also worrying about the impact that Europe's economic problems could have on the U.S. During the past month, investors have been preoccupied with rising debts in Europe, fearing they could hobble the regional economy and eventually the U.S.

"The events in Hungary are reminding the market that the problems with sovereign debt are a lingering affair," said Nick Kalivas, vice president of financial research at MF Global in Chicago. He added that reminders of Europe's debt crisis will pop up on occasion and send stocks lower, in much the way that the market faltered early in the subprime mortgage crisis.

"Until there's a resolution, we're just going to kind of have to deal with it," Kalivas said.

A drop in the euro, the currency used by 16 countries in Europe, contributed to stocks' slide. The euro fell as low as $1.1956, a four-year low. Hungary doesn't use the euro but the drop the currency was a sign of flagging confidence in Europe's economy.

The euro has fallen more than 10 percent since stocks peaked six weeks ago.

Overseas, Britain's FTSE 100 fell 1.8 percent, Germany's DAX index fell 1.9 percent, and France's CAC-40 dropped 2.9 percent. All three indexes rose early in the day.

Among retail stocks, Macy's Inc. fell $1.46, or 6.5 percent, to $21.03. JCPenney Stores Co. fell $1.59, or 5.9 percent, to $25.48 and Liz Claiborne Inc. slid 63 cents, or 10.2 percent, to $5.55.

Credit card issuers also dropped. American Express Co. fell $2.13, or 5.3 percent, to $38.41. Discover Financial Services Inc. fell 66 cents, or 4.9 percent, to $12.86. Regional banks, considered vulnerable to failed loans, also fell sharply. Key Corp. dropped 40 cents, or 4.9 percent, to $7.77. Regions Financial Corp. lost 51 cents, or 6.7 percent, to $7.13.

Oil prices fell sharply as investors pulled out of commodities, which like stocks are seen as risky assets. Investors were also wondering whether demand might fall if the economy is weaker than expected. Benchmark crude dropped $3.10 to $71.51 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

The Russell 2000 index of smaller stocks fell 33.40, or 5 percent, to 633.97.

0976
 

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Source: http://finance.yahoo.com

Stocks fall to lowest level in 7 months on fears that Europe will hurt recovery; Dow falls 115

Traders gave in to another case of last-hour anxiety Monday and drove stocks to their lowest level in seven months.

The Dow Jones industrial average, down just 42 points at 3:15 p.m., was down 115, or 1.2 percent, by the close 45 minutes later. That extended the Dow's sharp drop from Friday, when it lost 323 in response to a disappointing May jobs report. Broader indexes had steeper percentage drops than the Dow on Monday. The technology-focused Nasdaq composite index fell 2 percent. Treasury prices rose as investors again went in search of safe investments.

There was no obvious catalyst for Monday's late slide, although traders were again preoccupied with Europe's economic problems. Traders know that Europe's business day begins before trading opens in the U.S., and they'd rather sell then wake up to an unpleasant surprise. The last-hour selling, which followed a similar move Friday, also recalled the 2008 financial crisis, when traders decided the best strategy was to dump stocks just before the close.

Monday's trading also showed how the market's own dynamics can trigger late selling. Shortly after 3 p.m., the Standard & Poor's 500 index fell below 1,056.74, what had been its low close for the year that it reached Feb. 8. That psychological blow encouraged many traders to sell, and as prices came down, computer "sell" programs kicked in, leading to more selling.

The NYSE DOW closed LOWER -115.48 points -1.16% on Monday June 7
Sym. Last......... ........Change..........
Dow 9,816.49 -115.48 -1.16%
Nasdaq 2,173.90 -45.27 -2.04%
S&P 500 1,050.47 -14.41 -1.35%

30-yr Bond 4.1240% +0.0500

NYSE Volume 6,378,761,000 (prior day 7,318,019,000)
Nasdaq Volume 2,217,523,250 (prior day 2,350,037,500)

Europe
Symbol.... Last...... .....Change.......
FTSE 100 5,069.06 -56.94 -1.11%
DAX 5,904.95 -33.93 -0.57%
CAC 40 3,413.72 -41.89 -1.21%

Asia
Symbol...... Last...... .....Change.......
Nikkei 225 9,520.80 -380.39 -3.84%
Hang Seng 19,378.15 -401.92 -2.03%
Straits Times 2,751.88 -54.63 -1.95%


http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Late-...tml?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=main&asset=&ccode=

Late slide: Stocks fall in last hour, Dow down 115

Stocks fall to lowest level in 7 months on fears that Europe will hurt recovery; Dow falls 115


Tim Paradis, AP Business Writer, On Monday June 7, 2010, 6:39 pm

NEW YORK (AP) -- Traders gave in to another case of last-hour anxiety Monday and drove stocks to their lowest level in seven months.

The Dow Jones industrial average, down just 42 points at 3:15 p.m., was down 115, or 1.2 percent, by the close 45 minutes later. That extended the Dow's sharp drop from Friday, when it lost 323 in response to a disappointing May jobs report. Broader indexes had steeper percentage drops than the Dow on Monday. The technology-focused Nasdaq composite index fell 2 percent. Treasury prices rose as investors again went in search of safe investments.

There was no obvious catalyst for Monday's late slide, although traders were again preoccupied with Europe's economic problems. Traders know that Europe's business day begins before trading opens in the U.S., and they'd rather sell then wake up to an unpleasant surprise. The last-hour selling, which followed a similar move Friday, also recalled the 2008 financial crisis, when traders decided the best strategy was to dump stocks just before the close.

Monday's trading also showed how the market's own dynamics can trigger late selling. Shortly after 3 p.m., the Standard & Poor's 500 index fell below 1,056.74, what had been its low close for the year that it reached Feb. 8. That psychological blow encouraged many traders to sell, and as prices came down, computer "sell" programs kicked in, leading to more selling.

Tech stocks, seen as some of the most vulnerable when the economy and the market are troubled, suffered some of the biggest losses. That explains the drop in the Nasdaq index.

But some stocks fell on their own bad news. Google Inc. was one of the big tech losers, falling 2.7 percent after Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal called on the company to "come clean" on its collection of personal and business data in the state for its mapping service.

Financial stocks fell after a commission examining the financial crisis issued a subpoena to Goldman Sachs Group Inc. Goldman fell 2.5 percent. And Bank of America Corp. lost 3.4 percent after news came out that the bank would pay $108 million to settle federal charges that its Countrywide Financial Corp. division had collected onerous fees from homeowners nearing foreclosure.

Utility and gold stocks were among the few gainers, a sign that traders want investments considered safe in weak economies. Utility company FirstEnergy Corp. rose 2.7 percent, while Barrick Gold Corp. climbed 4.1 percent.

"The market is playing defense and waiting for some resolution," said Mike Shea, managing partner at Direct Access Partners LLC in New York, pointing to the rise in gold stocks.

Some traders say the market isn't likely to stabilize until there is a better sense about how European countries will hold up under heavy cost-cutting that could hamper their economic growth. Traders again looked to the euro for guidance. The 16-nation currency hit another four-year low. It fell as low as $1.1878 before rising to $1.1926. A drop in the currency is seen as a sign of flagging confidence in Europe's ability to contain its debt without falling back into recession.

The Dow fell 115.48, or 1.2 percent, to 9,816.49. The Dow has fallen 4.3 percent in the past two days, its worst back-to-back slide since early May.

The S&P 500 index fell 14.41, or 1.4 percent, to 1,050.47.

It was the lowest close for the Dow and the S&P 500 index since Nov. 4.

The Nasdaq composite index fell 45.27, or 2 percent, to 2,173.90. The Nasdaq stands at its lowest level since Feb. 10.

Traders' worries, mostly about Europe, have pounded stocks since major indexes hit 2010 highs in late April. The Dow is down 12.4 percent since reaching 11,205 on April 26. The drop of more than 10 percent from the peak indicates a "correction." It's the first major drop since indexes bounced off 12-year lows in March last year. The Dow is up 49.9 percent from its March low.

Treasury prices extended their gains after surging Friday on concern about the employment numbers. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note, which moves opposite its price, fell to 3.15 percent from 3.21 percent late Friday.

The dollar, which has a reputation for safety, rose against most other currencies. Gold rose $23.10 to $1,240.80 an ounce.

Crude oil fell 7 cents to $71.44 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Traders see commodities, like stocks, as riskier investments. So many commodities have suffered as the stock market has fallen.

Jim Thorne, chief investment officer for equities at MTB Investment Advisers in Baltimore, said traders are afraid they're seeing a repeat of the financial crisis of 2008. But Thorne said that although the jobs report Friday was disappointing, most numbers have pointed to an economy that is rebounding. The government said Friday that private employers hired just 41,000 workers in May, down from 218,000 in April and the lowest number since January.

"Right now the market is getting to the point where it's uninvestable. Fundamentals don't matter," Thorne said. "This is a period that will be looked back upon six to eight months from now as a wonderful investing opportunity."

Among bank stocks, Goldman fell $3.57, or 2.5 percent, to $138.68, while Bank of America fell 52 cents, or 3.4 percent, to $14.83.

FirstEnergy rose 94 cents, or 2.7 percent, to $36.16, while Barrick Gold rose $1.70, or 4.1 percent, to $43.12.

Google fell $13.20, or 2.7 percent, to $485.52.

Apple Inc. fell $5.02, or 2 percent, to $250.94 after CEO Steve Jobs said that the company's next iPhone would be thinner and have sharper screen resolution and longer battery life.

Nearly three stocks fell for every one that rose on the New York Stock Exchange, where consolidated volume fell to 5.6 billion shares from 6.3 billion Friday.

The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 15.48, or 2.4 percent, to 618.49.

Britain's FTSE 100 dropped 1.1 percent, Germany's DAX index fell 0.6 percent, and France's CAC-40 fell 1.2 percent. Japan's Nikkei stock average fell 3.8 percent in its first day of trading after U.S. markets tumbled Friday.
 

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Stocks turn higher in final hour of trading, giving market partial rebound from slide

This time, the stock market had a late-day rally.

Most stocks surged in the final hour of trading Tuesday to give the Dow Jones industrials a gain of 123 points. That ended a two-day slump that sent the Dow down nearly 440 to a seven-month low.

The market's rebound was choppy although Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke set the tone for the day by saying he didn't expect the economy to go back into recession. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose, but the Nasdaq composite index slipped as chipmakers fell on downbeat analyst comments.

Like the last two days, most of the action was in the last hour. Tuesday, however, it was buying that accelerated. The Dow was up only about 16 points shortly after 3 p.m., then soared 107 points in the final 43 minutes of trading.

The NYSE DOW closed LOWER +123.49 points +1.26% on Tuesday June 8
Sym. Last......... ........Change..........
Dow 9,939.98 +123.49 +1.26%

Nasdaq 2,170.57 -3.33 -0.15%
S&P 500 1,062.00 +11.53 +1.10%
30-yr Bond 4.0950% -0.2900

NYSE Volume 7,341,855,500 (prior day 6,378,761,000)
Nasdaq Volume 2,660,945,000 (prior day 2,217,523,250)


Europe
Symbol.... Last...... .....Change.......
FTSE 100 5,028.15 -40.91 -0.81%
DAX 5,868.55 -36.40 -0.62%
CAC 40 3,380.36 -33.36


Asia
Symbol...... Last...... .....Change.......
Nikkei 225 9,537.94 +17.14 +0.18%
Hang Seng 19,487.48 +109.33 +0.56%

Straits Times 2,746.61 -5.27 -0.19%

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Stock...2.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=3&asset=&ccode=

Stocks climb, not slide, in volatile last hour

Stocks turn higher in final hour of trading, giving market partial rebound from slide

Stephen Bernard and Tim Paradis, AP Business Writers, On Tuesday June 8, 2010, 5:08 pm EDT

NEW YORK (AP) -- This time, the stock market had a late-day rally.

Most stocks surged in the final hour of trading Tuesday to give the Dow Jones industrials a gain of 123 points. That ended a two-day slump that sent the Dow down nearly 440 to a seven-month low.

The market's rebound was choppy although Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke set the tone for the day by saying he didn't expect the economy to go back into recession. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose, but the Nasdaq composite index slipped as chipmakers fell on downbeat analyst comments.

Like the last two days, most of the action was in the last hour. Tuesday, however, it was buying that accelerated. The Dow was up only about 16 points shortly after 3 p.m., then soared 107 points in the final 43 minutes of trading.

As was also the case Monday, there was no one catalyst for the late move. But the late rally itself drew buyers who had waited to see whether stocks would have another late-day slide. And computer programs also kicked in, with rising stocks triggering more buying -- the reverse of the computer selling seen the last two days.

Materials stocks rose after gold extended its gain, briefly touching a record $1,254.50. Chemical maker DuPont climbed 4.1 percent. Meanwhile, oil drilling companies slumped after President Barack Obama blasted the industry in an interview with NBC. Transocean, which owns the oil rig that exploded in the Gulf of Mexico and caused the still-spreading spill, fell 5.8 percent.

Tuesday's rally doesn't signal a change in the market's still-fragile mood. Uri Landesman, president of Platinum Partners in New York, said traders could go back to selling if more doubts arise about the recovery.

"People's tolerance for bad news is low," he said. "There is a reasonably high chance of bad headlines."

The Dow rose 123.49, or 1.3 percent, to 9,939.98. The Dow had fallen 4.3 percent in the two prior days to its lowest level since Nov. 4.

The S&P 500 index rose 11.53, or 1.1 percent, to 1,062.00. It also fell Monday to its lowest close since November. The S&P's two-day slide of 5.4 percent was its steepest since March 2009.

The Nasdaq fell 3.33, or 0.2 percent, to 2,170.57.

Three stocks rose for every two that fell on the New York Stock Exchange. Volume came to 1.6 billion shares, compared with 1.4 billion Monday.

Uncertainty about the global economy sent investors looking for safety in gold. There was less demand for the safety of Treasurys, however. The yield on the benchmark 10-year note, which moves opposite its price, rose to 3.19 percent from 3.15 percent late Monday.

Crude oil rose 55 cents to $71.99 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Bernanke said in a speech late Monday that he expects the U.S. recovery to continue, but he acknowledged it is unlikely to be robust.

"It won't feel terrific," Bernanke said.

The Fed releases its Beige Book report Wednesday, which provides a regional snapshot of economic activity.

The chairman's comments reassured traders following Friday's disappointing May jobs report. Bernanke's assessment also eased worries that a slowdown in Europe will spread across the Atlantic.

Traders again tracked movements of the euro. The 16-nation currency has become a measure of confidence in Europe's ability to contain its debt problems and keep its economy growing. The euro rose to $1.1969 a day after hitting a four-year low.

Barbara Marcin, manager at the Gabelli Blue Chip Value Fund in Rye, N.Y., said there have been so many swings in the market because traders are looking six to 12 months ahead to an economy that they believe will be just "mediocre."

She expects questions about the economy to continue to hit stocks for the near future.

"I don't know how you cannot think you're going to have an extremely volatile six months coming up," Marcin said.

Among chip stocks, Intel Corp. fell 13 cents, or 0.6 percent, to $20.18 Marvell Technology Group Ltd. fell 85 cents, or 4.7 percent, to $17.21, while Nvidia Corp. dropped 32 cents, or 2.8 percent, to $11.18.

Materials stocks got a boost from the rise in gold and a rebound in copper. DuPont rose $1.40, or 4.1 percent, to $35.49. Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. rose $2.82, or 4.8 percent, to $61.48.

Oil drilling companies fell after analysts also warned that a ban on deepwater drilling tied to the Gulf oil spill could be extended beyond six months. Obama's comments also brought more bad attention to drillers.

"I don't sit around just talking to experts because this is a college seminar, we talk to these folks because they potentially have the best answers -- so I know whose ass to kick," Obama said.

Transocean Corp. fell $2.84, or 5.8 percent, to $46.33. Analysts lowered their ratings on Diamond Offshore Drilling. The stock fell $2.27, or 3.8 percent, to $56.94.

BP PLC, which operated the rig, fell $2.08, or 5.7 percent, to $34.68.

The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 0.80, or 0.1 percent, to 617.69.

Britain's FTSE 100 fell 0.8 percent, Germany's DAX index fell 0.6 percent, and France's CAC-40 dropped 1 percent. Japan's Nikkei stock average rose 0.2 percent.
 

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Stocks give up early gains after BP drops 15.8 percent on fears about costs of Gulf clean-up

The stock market had another late-day slide, this time because of fears that the Gulf oil spill will threaten BP's dividend and perhaps land the company in bankruptcy court.

The Dow Jones industrials, up about 125 points late Wednesday morning, closed down 41. Most selling came in the last hour, the third time in four days that stocks had a late-day drop.

Investors got a "sell" signal from news reports that raised the possibility of worsening financial fallout from the oil spill. A group of about 30 U.S. lawmakers sent a letter to BP CEO Tony Hayward asking him to halt dividend payments and advertising until the leaking well is capped and the spill is cleaned up. Investors tend to sell any time a company's dividend appears to be in jeopardy. BP is scheduled to make a $2.63 billion payout on June 21.

The NYSE DOW closed LOWER -40.73 points -0.41% on Wednesday June 9
Sym. Last......... ........Change..........
Dow 9,899.25 -40.73 -0.41%
Nasdaq 2,158.85 -11.72 -0.54%
S&P 500 1,055.69 -6.31 -0.59%

30-yr Bond 4.1190% +0.2400

NYSE Volume 7,174,760,000 (prior day 7,341,855,500)
Nasdaq Volume 2,277,749,000 (prior day 2,660,945,000)


Europe
Symbol.... Last...... .....Change.......
FTSE 100 5,085.86 +57.71 +1.15%
DAX 5,984.75 +116.20 +1.98%
CAC 40 3,446.77 +66.41 +1.96%


Asia
Symbol...... Last...... .....Change.......
Nikkei 225 9,439.13 -98.81 -1.04%
Hang Seng 19,621.24 +133.76 +0.69%
Straits Times 2,745.80 -0.81 -0.03%

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Drop-...tml?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=main&asset=&ccode=

Drop in energy stocks punctures early market rally

Stocks give up early gains after BP drops 15.8 percent on fears about costs of Gulf clean-up


Tim Paradis and Stevenson Jacobs, AP Business Writers, On Wednesday June 9, 2010, 6:19 pm

NEW YORK (AP) -- The stock market had another late-day slide, this time because of fears that the Gulf oil spill will threaten BP's dividend and perhaps land the company in bankruptcy court.

The Dow Jones industrials, up about 125 points late Wednesday morning, closed down 41. Most selling came in the last hour, the third time in four days that stocks had a late-day drop.

Investors got a "sell" signal from news reports that raised the possibility of worsening financial fallout from the oil spill. A group of about 30 U.S. lawmakers sent a letter to BP CEO Tony Hayward asking him to halt dividend payments and advertising until the leaking well is capped and the spill is cleaned up. Investors tend to sell any time a company's dividend appears to be in jeopardy. BP is scheduled to make a $2.63 billion payout on June 21.

And Fortune.com quoted an analyst as saying BP could be forced to seek bankruptcy protection within about a month.

The worries about BP were enough to make investors shrug off reassuring words about the economy early in the day from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke. BP fell 15.8 percent to a 14-year low and selling spread to other energy companies. Anadarko Petroleum Corp., a part-owner of the rig that caused the spill, dropped 18.6 percent.

The slide in energy stocks halted the market's upward momentum, said Peter Boockvar, equity strategist at Miller Tabak.

"The oil stocks are getting killed. They're widely owned so anytime you see that kind of activity it makes people nervous," Boockvar said.

The drop came a day after the Dow climbed 123 points on easing concerns that the economy would fall back into recession. The confidence extended into the first part of trading Wednesday, lifting the Dow back above 10,000, after Bernanke said debt problems in Europe might only amount to a "modest" drag on the U.S. economy if the financial markets can halt their slide.

He told the House Budget Committee that the economy is getting better but that job growth is likely to remain weak. The enthusiasm over his testimony faded after speculation arose that BP might not be able to recover from the oil spill.

Many traders have been anxious since last month that problems from the Gulf spill to spending cuts in Europe would slow the economic recovery. The concerns have pounded U.S. stocks since they set 2010 highs in late April. They are down more than 10 percent since then, a drop that's known as a "correction."

David Chalupnik, head of equities at First American Funds in Minneapolis, said it's most likely that Bernanke is right that the economy will continue to recover but that trading will remain choppy. He said traders won't get a better sense about how the economy is holding up until July when earnings reports and more economic numbers come out.

"We're probably in the fifth inning of the correction. Maybe the sixth inning," Chalupnik said. "The next month, I think, is just going to be extremely volatile."

The Dow fell 40.73, or 0.4 percent, to 9,899.25 after trading as high as 10,065.14. It is down 1,306 points, or 11.7 percent, from its 2010 high of 11,205, reached April 26.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 6.31, or 0.6 percent, to 1,055.69, while the Nasdaq composite index fell 11.72, or 0.5 percent, to 2,158.85.

Despite the drop in major indexes, advancing stocks narrowly outpaced those that fell on the New York Stock Exchange. Consolidated trading volume fell to 6.2 billion shares from 6.3 billion Tuesday.

The late selling sent traders back into the safety of Treasurys. That pushed interest rates lower. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note slipped to 3.18 percent from 3.19 percent late Tuesday.

Gold prices retreated Wednesday after setting a record high a day earlier. Gold fell $15.70 to $1,229.90 an ounce. It rose as high as $1,254.40 an ounce on Tuesday.

Crude oil rose $2.39, or 3.3 percent, to $74.38 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

The drop in stocks accelerated after the euro dipped below $1.20, said Michael O'Rourke, chief market strategist at institutional broker dealer BTIG LLC in New York.

The 16-nation currency has been under pressure on worries about Europe's growth prospects and the economic effects of deep cuts in government spending there. Investors are worried that could undercut U.S. economic recovery.

"We've been very much tethered to the euro. Every time it goes lower, our equity market turns lower," O'Rourke said.

The market's slump overshadowed a Fed report that the U.S. economy strengthened in all 12 of the central bank's regions. That hasn't happened since before the recession began in December 2007. Manufacturing, retail sales and tourism improved, while demand for housing rose because of the homebuyer tax credit that expired at the end of April. The Beige Book survey precedes the next meeting of the Fed's interest rate committee by two weeks.

BP PLC fell $5.48, or $15.80, to $29.20, while Anadarko Petroleum fell $7.97, or 18.6 percent, to $34.83.

Britain's FTSE 100 rose 1.2 percent, Germany's DAX index and France's CAC-40 each rose 2 percent. Japan's Nikkei stock average fell 1 percent.
 

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Stocks jump on US jobless numbers, China export gain; Dow climbs 273 point to close above 10K

Investors sent the Dow Jones industrials back above 10,000 after a stream of upbeat economic news convinced them that maybe things aren't so bad after all.

The Dow rose 273 points to 10,172. All the major indexes climbed more than 2.5 percent. Falling Treasury prices pushed interest rates higher as demand for safe investments eased.

Energy stocks led the market higher after they slid late Wednesday on concerns that BP would be forced to cut its dividend because of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. BP PLC rose 12.3 percent from a 14-year low, while Anadarko Petroleum Corp., which has a minority stake in the rig that caused the spill, rose 12.4 percent.

The NYSE DOW closed HIGHER +273.28 points +2.76% on Thursday June 10
Sym. Last......... ........Change..........
Dow 10,172.53 +273.28 +2.76%
Nasdaq 2,218.71 +59.86 +2.77%
S&P 500 1,086.84 +31.15 +2.95%
30-yr Bond 4.2410% +1.2200


NYSE Volume 6,040,905,000 (prior day 7,174,760,000)
Nasdaq Volume 2,168,023,250 (prior day 2,277,749,000)


Europe
Symbol.... Last...... .....Change.......
FTSE 100 5,132.50 +46.64 +0.92%
DAX 6,056.59 +71.84 +1.20%
CAC 40 3,516.64 +69.87 +2.03%


Asia
Symbol...... Last...... .....Change.......
Nikkei 225 9,542.65 +103.52 +1.10%
Hang Seng 19,632.70 +11.46 +0.06%
Straits Times 2,779.58 +33.78 +1.23%


http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Stock...8.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=1&asset=&ccode=

Stocks surge on US jobs data, China trade growth

Stocks jump on US jobless numbers, China export gain; Dow climbs 273 point to close above 10K


Tim Paradis, AP Business Writer, On Thursday June 10, 2010, 5:58 pm EDT

NEW YORK (AP) -- Investors sent the Dow Jones industrials back above 10,000 after a stream of upbeat economic news convinced them that maybe things aren't so bad after all.

The Dow rose 273 points to 10,172. All the major indexes climbed more than 2.5 percent. Falling Treasury prices pushed interest rates higher as demand for safe investments eased.

Energy stocks led the market higher after they slid late Wednesday on concerns that BP would be forced to cut its dividend because of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. BP PLC rose 12.3 percent from a 14-year low, while Anadarko Petroleum Corp., which has a minority stake in the rig that caused the spill, rose 12.4 percent.

Most bank stocks rose but Goldman Sachs Group Inc. fell 2.2 percent to its lowest level in a year following news reports that it was target of another investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The SEC has already filed civil fraud charges against the company. The company has denied wrongdoing.

Investors have pounded stocks for more than a month because of concerns that Europe's sovereign debt crisis would slow a rebound worldwide. Thursday's advance was the latest swing in a market that has been volatile for weeks, including three late-day slides in the past four days. Some of the advance could be coming from what's known as "short-covering." That's when traders are forced to buy stock after having earlier sold borrowed shares in a bet that the market would fall. The moves can add to the market's climb.

Markets around the world rose after China said exports rose 48.5 percent in May, while imports jumped 48.3 percent. The increase in trade provides some relief to fears that debt problems in Europe would halt a global economic recovery. The 27-nation European Union is China's largest trading partner. China has said it wanted to cool its economy to keep it from getting overheated. Traders had grown concerned that China would inadvertently slow growth too much and hurt a global rebound.

"China so far has been able to pull this off," said John Apruzzese, partner and equity portfolio manager at Evercore Wealth Management in New York. "There's more focus on Europe but I think it's more about China."

The Dow rose 273.28, or 2.8 percent, to 10,172.53. It was the Dow's first close above 10,000 this week and its biggest gain since May 27 when it climbed nearly 285 points after China said it didn't plan to sell its European government bonds.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 31.15, or 3 percent, to 1,086.84, while the Nasdaq composite index rose 59.86, or 2.8 percent, to 2,218.71.

Brian Lazorishak, portfolio manager at Chase Investment Council in Charlottesville, Va., said he wants to see the market at least hold its gains for a few days before he considers Thursday's advance as more than a blip.

"We've all become a little gun-shy," he said.

The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note, which moves opposite its price, rose to 3.33 percent from 3.18 percent late Wednesday.

The euro, used by 16 countries in Europe, rose to $1.2111. The currency has become an indicator of investor confidence in Europe's ability to cut debt without spoiling a recovery.

Traders grew more confident that a global rebound was intact. Beyond the news out of China, Japan's economy grew faster than expected in the first three months of the year. In Australia, the government said full-time employment rose for a ninth consecutive month in May.

While investors worry about Europe's debt problems, there are also concerns about the job market in the U.S. An unemployment rate of 9.7 percent remains one of the biggest obstacles to a strong domestic rebound.

The Labor Department said new claims for unemployment fell by 3,000 to a seasonally adjusted 456,000. While that figure fell short of economists' forecast, traders were heartened by numbers showing total claims last week dropped by the largest amount in almost a year. Total unemployment benefit rolls fell by 255,000 to 4.5 million.

On its face, the drop is good news but there it also could indicate that people have run out of their state benefits and are moving to longer-term federal benefits. Still, the drop in total claims provides some hope that laid-off workers are starting to find jobs. It was welcome relief after the Labor Department said last week that private employers slowed their hiring in May to the lowest level since January.

Crude oil rose $1.10 to $75.48 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It was the first close above $75 in about a month. Gold fell.

Among energy stocks, BP PLC rose $3.58, or 12.3 percent, to $32.78, while Anadarko rose $4.32, or 12.4 percent, to $39.15.

Goldman fell $3.03, or 2.2 percent, to $133.77. It traded as low as $131.30, below a previous 12-month low of $134.20.

About 2,700 stocks rose on the New York Stock Exchange, while only about 375 fell. Consolidated volume fell to 5.2 billion shares from 6.2 billion Wednesday.

The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies rose 21.50, or 3.5 percent, to 639.79.

Britain's FTSE 100 rose 0.9 percent, Germany's DAX index rose 1.2 percent, and France's CAC-40 rose 2 percent. Japan's Nikkei stock average rose 1.1 percent.
 

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The Dow's climb of 279 points, or 2.8 percent, during the week was its best since the week ended Feb. 19. For the week, the S&P 500 index rose 2.5 percent and the Nasdaq rose 1.1 percent.

The Dow Jones industrial average has logged its first winning week in a month.

The Dow rose 39 points Friday and ended the week with a gain of 2.8 percent, its best weekly advance since mid-February. The market slid in morning trading on disappointing retail sales numbers but started to pare its losses after a report found consumers are gaining confidence in the economy. The market climbed in the last hour of trading to end near the highs of the day.

Treasury prices rose, pushing down interest rates, after spiking on Thursday.

The NYSE DOW closed HIGHER +38.54 points +0.38% on Friday June 11
Sym. Last......... ........Change..........
Dow 10,211.07 +38.54 +0.38%
Nasdaq 2,243.60 +24.89 +1.12%
S&P 500 1,091.60 +4.76 +0.44%

30-yr Bond 4.1350% -1.0600

NYSE Volume 4,688,028,000 (prior day 6,040,905,000)
Nasdaq Volume 1,824,646,250 (prior day 2,168,023,250)


Europe
Symbol.... Last...... .....Change.......
FTSE 100 5,163.68 +31.18 +0.61%
DAX 6,047.83 -8.76 -0.14%
CAC 40 3,555.52 +38.88 +1.11%

Asia
Symbol...... Last...... .....Change.......
Nikkei 225 9,705.25 +162.60 +1.70%
Hang Seng 19,872.38 +239.68 +1.22%
Straits Times 2,796.29 +16.71 +0.60%


http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Dow-p...tml?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=main&asset=&ccode=

Dow posts first weekly gain in nearly a month

Dow snaps 3-week losing streak; Traders look past weak retail sales to improved consumer mood


Stephen Bernard, AP Business Writer, On Friday June 11, 2010, 5:47 pm
NEW YORK (AP) -- The Dow Jones industrial average has logged its first winning week in a month.

The Dow rose 39 points Friday and ended the week with a gain of 2.8 percent, its best weekly advance since mid-February. The market slid in morning trading on disappointing retail sales numbers but started to pare its losses after a report found consumers are gaining confidence in the economy. The market climbed in the last hour of trading to end near the highs of the day.

Treasury prices rose, pushing down interest rates, after spiking on Thursday.

The preliminary Reuters/University of Michigan consumer sentiment index for June showed consumer confidence rose to its highest level since January 2008 and came in well ahead of forecasts. The jump in confidence was an encouraging sign, but still doesn't signal the all-clear for the economy, said Michael Sheldon, chief market strategist at RDM Financial Group in Westport, Conn.

"We recovered some lost ground, but there is still some ways to go," Sheldon said. That was evident in the disappointing retail sales report, which initially sent stocks lower.

The government reported that retail sales fell 1.2 percent in May. It was the first drop in eight months. It was a surprise to economists who had predicted the pace of growth would slow between April and May, but still rise.

Companies dependent on consumer spending fell after the report. Proctor & Gamble Co., which makes Tide detergent and Gillette razors, lost 1.5 percent. J.C.Penney Co. fell 1.1 percent, while Macy's Inc. shares also slipped.

Technology shares got a boost after handset maker Motorola Inc. settled a patent dispute with Research In Motion Ltd. Motorola climbed 4 percent, while Research In Motion added less than 1 percent.

The mixed reports come a day after stocks surged on upbeat global economic figures. The day's swings extended the volatility that has been seen in recent weeks. The Dow climbed 279 points Thursday on reports from China, Japan and Australia that indicated the global economy continues to improve.

Despite the gains Friday, analysts said traders aren't on edge. "The market is nervous," said Joe Heider, principal at Rehmann Financial in Cleveland. "It's reacting on a day-to-day basis."

Heider said the economy is not growing fast enough to overcome the concerns about Europe's debt crisis and other issues such as the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. That has led to fluctuations in the market, often within the same day. As it has done for most of the week, the market shifted direction in the final hour of trading Friday.

The Dow rose 38.54, or 0.4 percent, to 10,211.07. It had fallen nearly 90 points in morning trading. The Dow's climb of 279 points, or 2.8 percent, during the week was its best since the week ended Feb. 19.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 4.76, or 0.4 percent, to 1,091.60, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index rose 24.89, or 1.1 percent, to 2,243.60.

For the week, the S&P 500 index rose 2.5 percent and the Nasdaq rose 1.1 percent.

Nearly three stocks rose for every one that fell on the New York Stock Exchange, where consolidated volume came to 4.1 billion shares, compared with 5.2 billion Thursday.

Treasury prices rose as some investors sought safety following the retail sales report. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note, which moves opposite its price, fell to 3.24 percent from 3.33 percent late Thursday.

Friday's reports follow a trend over the past month showing an uneven recovery, which has added concern to a market that is already struggling with worries about the health of Europe's economy. The Dow has mostly fallen since late April as investors worry about whether debt problems and steep government spending cuts in countries like Greece, Spain, Portugal and Hungary will slow Europe's economy so much that the economic slump would spread around the globe.

The euro's level against other currencies has become a key indicator of confidence in European governments' ability to resolve their fiscal problems. The currency, which is used by 16 countries, was little-changed against the dollar. It stood at $1.2108 late Friday.

Analysts say everyday investors, in particular, are still nervous about the market and economy, and are sitting on the sidelines. That leaves institutional investors as the main players in the stock market, which explains why volatility has been so high.

Institutional traders' "sense of long-term holding is in minutes," said Bob Tull, chief operating officer of Old Mutual Global Index Trackers. The quick trades and constant movement of professional money managers means stocks are bound to gyrate more than if there is a steady flow of cash from retail investors heading into the market.

Proctor & Gamble fell 90 cents to $61.01. J.C.Penney dropped 28 cents to $25.99, while Macy's fell 4 cents to $21.24.

Motorola rose 27 cents to $7.11. Research in Motion shares rose 39 cents to $59.50.

Crude oil fell $1.70 to $73.78 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies rose 9.21, or 1.4 percent, to 649.00. For the week, the Russell rose 2.8 percent.

Britain's FTSE 100 rose 0.6 percent, Germany's DAX index fell 0.1 percent, and France's CAC-40 rose 1.1 percent. Japan's Nikkei stock average rose 1.7 percent.

1467
 

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Stocks faltered in the last hour of trading Monday after investors gave in to anxiety about Europe's economy.

The Dow Jones industrial average erased an early gain of 118 points to end down 20. The Standard & Poor's 500 also fell slightly, while the Nasdaq composite rose less than a point.

Stocks began the day higher following a report that industrial production in the 16 countries that use the euro grew more than expected in April. That boosted confidence that Europe could solve its debt problems and pushed the euro above $1.22 for the first time since June 4.

The NYSE DOW closed LOWER -20.18 points -0.20% on Monday June 14
Sym. Last......... ........Change..........
Dow 10,190.89 -20.18 -0.20%

Nasdaq 2,243.96 +0.36 +0.02%
S&P 500 1,089.63 -1.97 -0.18%
30-yr Bond 4.2010% +0.6600

NYSE Volume 5,168,702,000 (prior day 4,688,028,000)
Nasdaq Volume 1,899,194,875 (prior day 1,824,646,250)


Europe
Symbol.... Last...... .....Change.......
FTSE 100 5,202.13 +38.45 +0.74%
DAX 6,125.00 +77.17 +1.28%
CAC 40 3,626.04 +70.52 +1.98%

Asia
Symbol...... Last...... .....Change.......
Nikkei 225 9,879.85 +174.60 +1.80%
Hang Seng 20,051.91 +179.53 +0.90%
Straits Times 2,818.07 +21.78 +0.78%


http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Stocks-falter-in-last-hour-apf-2463073912.html?x=0&.v=22

Stocks falter in last hour; trader anxiety sets in

Stocks falter, giving market a mixed close, as traders give in to final-hour anxiety


Tim Paradis, AP Business Writer, On Monday June 14, 2010, 5:05 pm

NEW YORK (AP) -- Stocks faltered in the last hour of trading Monday after investors gave in to anxiety about Europe's economy.

The Dow Jones industrial average erased an early gain of 118 points to end down 20. The Standard & Poor's 500 also fell slightly, while the Nasdaq composite rose less than a point.

Stocks began the day higher following a report that industrial production in the 16 countries that use the euro grew more than expected in April. That boosted confidence that Europe could solve its debt problems and pushed the euro above $1.22 for the first time since June 4.

Investors have been concerned that government spending cuts aimed at slashing debt would hurt Europe and slow a global recovery. However, there have been few signs so far that the steep budget cuts needed to contain rising debt in countries like Greece, Spain and Portugal have slowed economies around the world.

Greece is still enough of a concern that bad news about the country's well-known problems was enough to help take down the market's advance. Traders at first shrugged off news that credit rating agency Moody's lowered its rating on Greece's debt to "junk" status. But in the final hour, many traders apparently decided the safest move was to take money out of the market. They were particularly uneasy after the Dow had risen 312 points in the prior two days.

The downgrade of Greece's debt wasn't the first and analysts said the market's response signals that traders are still jittery about Europe.

"When you have ratings downgrades, it's the proverbial fire truck arriving at the barn after it has burned down," said Kent Engelke, chief economic strategist at Capitol Securities Management in Glen Allen, Va. "Ultimately, economic activity will trump these other fears facing the market."

Bank stocks fell on concerns about European debt and about a financial overhaul bill in Congress. Some traders are worried that the merged version of the House and Senate financial overhaul bills will be tougher on banks than analysts had anticipated. Tighter restrictions could cut into profits. JPMorgan Chase & Co. fell 2 percent, while Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lost 1.6 percent.

The early advance came on light trading volume. That left the market vulnerable because many traders want to see more investors buying in as a sign of growing confidence.

Dan Wantrobski, director of technical research at Janney Montgomery Scott in Philadelphia, expects the markets to be choppy for some time. He warned that the back-and-forth trading could push skittish investors from the market and raise the chances that the market slides again this summer.

"The longer we wait here in this kind of purgatory, the more the likelihood we can break through," he said, referring to another drop in the markets. He wouldn't be surprised to see the Standard & Poor's 500 index fall to the 950-1,000 level this summer. That's a drop of 8 percent to 13 percent.

The Dow fell 20.18, or 0.2 percent, to 10,190.89. The Dow hasn't risen three straight days since April.

The S&P 500 index fell 1.97, or 0.2 percent, to 1,089.63, while the Nasdaq composite index rose 0.36, or less than 0.1 percent, to 2,243.96.

Winning stocks outpaced losers by 3 to 2 on the New York Stock Exchange. Volume came to 1.1 billion shares compared with 1 billion Friday.

The market is coming off its best week since mid-February. The Dow jumped 2.8 percent last week in volatile trading, ending a three-week losing streak. The gains didn't come from a steady climb, however. Stocks routinely sold off or rallied during the final hours of trading each day.

Bond prices fell Monday but pulled off their lows after the gains in stocks began to slide. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note, which moves opposite its price, rose to 3.27 percent from 3.24 percent late Friday.

Crude oil rose $1.34 to $75.12 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Gold fell.

JPMorgan fell 76 cents, or 2 percent, to $37.33, while Goldman fell $2.20, or 1.6 percent, to $133.44.

Shares of BP PLC and Transocean Ltd. fell because of the fallout from the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. BP shares dropped $3.30, or 9.7 percent, to $30.67 on concerns that the company will suspend its dividend to ease political pressure it is facing in the U.S. Transocean Ltd., owner of the rig that exploded and set off the leak, fell $2.07, or 4.4 percent, to $44.78.

The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies rose 3.27, or 0.5 percent, to 652.27.

Britain's FTSE 100 rose 0.7 percent, Germany's DAX index gained 1.3 percent, and France's CAC-40 rose 2 percent. Japan's Nikkei stock average rose 1.8 percent.
 

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Industrial and technology stocks pulled the market sharply higher Tuesday after Boeing Co. said it was boosting production and an industry group forecast that demand for computers would increase.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 213 points to its highest close since May 19 and had their third advance in four days. Major stock indexes rose more than 2 percent.

The advance was broad, but came on light trading volume. That's a sign that many traders are staying out of the market while they wait to see if stocks will keep moving higher after weeks of erratic trading.

The NYSE DOW closed HIGHER +213.88 points +2.10% on Tuesday June 15
Sym. Last......... ........Change..........
Dow 10,404.77 +213.88 +2.10%
Nasdaq 2,305.88 +61.92 +2.76%
S&P 500 1,115.23 +25.60 +2.35%
30-yr Bond 4.2300% +0.2900

NYSE Volume 5,299,700,500 (prior day 5,168,702,000)
Nasdaq Volume 2,257,801,750 (prior day 1,899,194,875)

Europe
Symbol.... Last...... .....Change.......
FTSE 100 5,217.82 +15.69 +0.30%
DAX 6,175.05 +50.05 +0.82%
CAC 40 3,661.51 +35.47 +0.98%

Asia
Symbol...... Last...... .....Change.......
Nikkei 225 9,887.89 +8.04 +0.08%
Hang Seng 20,062.15 +10.24 +0.05%
Straits Times 2,818.21 +0.14 +0.00%


http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Stock...tml?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=main&asset=&ccode=

Stocks see broad gains; Industrials, tech climb

Industrial, technology stocks lift market on signs of increasing demand; Dow rises 213


Tim Paradis, AP Business Writer, On Tuesday June 15, 2010, 6:14 pm EDT

NEW YORK (AP) -- Industrial and technology stocks pulled the market sharply higher Tuesday after Boeing Co. said it was boosting production and an industry group forecast that demand for computers would increase.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 213 points to its highest close since May 19 and had their third advance in four days. Major stock indexes rose more than 2 percent.

The advance was broad, but came on light trading volume. That's a sign that many traders are staying out of the market while they wait to see if stocks will keep moving higher after weeks of erratic trading.

Industrials made some of the biggest moves following upbeat news from Boeing Co. and Illinois Tool Works Inc. Boeing rose 4.1 percent after increasing production of the 737 jet. Boeing said customers are adding to existing orders and placing new ones. ITW rose about 2.5 percent after it raised the lower end of its fiscal second-quarter earnings target.

More good news on industrials came from the New York Federal Reserve, which said regional manufacturing expanded for an 11th straight month in June.

"We're still seeing factories and manufacturing help provide a little stimulus for the economy here," said Michael Church, president at Addison Capital Group in Philadelphia.

Technology stocks got a boost after research firm International Data Corp. raised its forecast for personal computer shipments for 2010. IDC said shipments will be up almost 20 percent from 2010, compared with a forecast of a 15 percent increase made in April. Microsoft Corp. rose 4.3 percent and Hewlett Packard Co. rose 2.4 percent.

A gain in the euro and a drop in the dollar signaled that traders are less worried that debt problems in Europe will disrupt a global recovery. The euro, which is seen as measure of investors' confidence in the European economy, traded at $1.2339. Last week, it fell to a four-year low of $1.1878.

Stocks had dropped along with the euro since May amid growing concerns that weaker European countries such as Greece would default on debt. Investors also were afraid that the budget cuts that countries including Greece, Spain and Portugal have had to implement will slow their economic growth. The concern was that growth across the continent and the rest of the world would also be hurt.

Tuesday's trading shows that investors have started to put aside some of their uneasiness about Europe and focus on continuing signs of strength in the U.S. Still, the market is susceptible to troubling headlines. On Monday, stocks gave up steep gains, partly because Moody's cut its rating on Greece's debt to "junk" status.

Investors are also ready to punish stocks of companies that have disappointing news. Best Buy Co. fell 6.1 percent Tuesday after the electronics chain posted weaker-than-expected earnings.

Analysts have predicted that the market's choppy trading of the past two months is likely to continue until investors feel more secure about the global economy. The Dow has had 24 triple-digit moves in the 35 trading days since it reached a 2010 high of 11,205.03 on April 26.

The Dow rose 213.88, or 2.1 percent, to 10,404.77. The broader Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 25.60, or 2.4 percent, to 1,115.23,

The Standard & Poor's 500 index moved above its average close of the past 200 days, 1,108. The 200-day moving average is a technical level watched by many traders. Pushing above that is seen as a sign of strength in the market. Gains in stocks faded Monday in part after the S&P 500 index failed to top the mark.

The tech-dominated Nasdaq composite index rose 61.92, or 2.8 percent, to 2,305.88.

Bond prices fell and drove up interest rates after stocks climbed. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note rose to 3.31 percent from 3.26 percent late Monday.

Andrew Neale, head of portfolio management at Fogel Neale Partners in New York, is skeptical that the market's climb will hold. He noted that many individual investors are growing weary of the market's sharp swings and are pulling money out of mutual funds and other investments. That means the gains are being driven largely by professional traders.

"We don't see any real retail buying," Neale said, referring to individual investors. "We're advising our clients to be very cautious with the market."

Boeing climbed $2.66, or 4.1 percent, to $67.48 and Illinois Tool rose $1.13, or 2.5 percent, to $46.78.

Microsoft Corp. rose $1.09, or 4.3 percent, to $26.58. Hewlett Packard rose $1.10 to $47.98.

Best Buy's fiscal first-quarter net income and revenue fell short of analysts' expectations, but the company reiterated its fiscal 2011 forecast. The report brought concerns that consumers will cut spending and hurt a U.S. recovery. Best Buy fell $2.49, or 6.1 percent, to $38.56.

Shares of BP PLC rose 73 cents, or 2.4 percent, to $31.40 after falling 10 percent Monday when concerns grew about stepped-up political pressure in the U.S. to set aside money for costs related to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill that began April 20 when a rig operated by BP exploded. On Tuesday, credit ratings agency Fitch cut its rating on the oil company's debt. Fitch cited concerns about rising costs tied to the spill.

Commodities rose as investors were again tempted by investments seen as riskier. The prospect of a stronger global economy also lifted demand for metals and energy. Benchmark crude for July delivery rose $1.82 to settle at $76.94 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Copper for July delivery rose 1.25 cents, or 0.42 percent, to settle at $3.0045 a pound.

The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies rose 16.50, or 2.5 percent, to 668.77.

Six stocks rose for every one that fell on the New York Stock Exchange, where consolidated volume came to 4.7 billion shares, versus 4.5 billion shares the day before.

Britain's FTSE 100 climbed 0.3 percent, Germany's DAX index rose 0.8 percent, and France's CAC-40 rose 1 percent. Japan's Nikkei stock average finished up 0.1 percent.
 

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BP's agreement to put $20 billion into a fund for victims of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill lifted the stock market off its lows and sent the major indexes to a narrowly mixed finish.

The oil company also said Wednesday it has canceled a dividend payment totaling about $2.6 billion that was scheduled for June 21. It also won't declare a dividend for the second and third quarters. Investors saw the news as an end to the uncertainty about BP's stability, and that helped steady the overall market. The Dow Jones industrial average rose about 4 points, while the Standard & Poor's 500 index fell less than a point and the Nasdaq composite index was virtually unchanged.

BP's plans to place $20 billion in a fund to compenste victims were announced after a meeting between BP executives and President Barack Obama at the White House. Traders had been questioning how BP will handle the mounting costs of the spill, which began April 20 when a rig operated by BP exploded.

The NYSE DOW closed HIGHER +4.69 points +0.05% on Wednesday June 16
Sym. Last......... ........Change..........
Dow 10,409.46 +4.69 +0.05%
Nasdaq 2,305.93 +0.05 +0.00%

S&P 500 1,114.61 -0.62 -0.06%
30-yr Bond 4.20% -0.30


NYSE Volume 5,646,613,500 (prior day 5,299,700,500)
Nasdaq Volume 1,946,411,120 (prior day 2,257,801,750)

Europe
Symbol.... Last...... .....Change.......
FTSE 100 5,237.92 +20.10 +0.39%
DAX 6,190.91 +15.86 +0.26%
CAC 40 3,675.93 +14.42 +0.39%

Asia
Symbol...... Last...... .....Change.......
Nikkei 225 10,067.15 +179.26 +1.81%
Hang Seng 20,062.15 +10.24 +0.05%
Straits Times 2,846.94 +28.73 +1.02%


http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Stock...2.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=2&asset=&ccode=

Stocks end flat; BP agrees to $20B victim fund

Stocks close little changed after BP agreement for victim fund eases uncertainty about company


Tim Paradis, AP Business Writer, On Wednesday June 16, 2010, 5:36 pm

NEW YORK (AP) -- BP's agreement to put $20 billion into a fund for victims of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill lifted the stock market off its lows and sent the major indexes to a narrowly mixed finish.

The oil company also said Wednesday it has canceled a dividend payment totaling about $2.6 billion that was scheduled for June 21. It also won't declare a dividend for the second and third quarters. Investors saw the news as an end to the uncertainty about BP's stability, and that helped steady the overall market. The Dow Jones industrial average rose about 4 points, while the Standard & Poor's 500 index fell less than a point and the Nasdaq composite index was virtually unchanged.

BP's plans to place $20 billion in a fund to compenste victims were announced after a meeting between BP executives and President Barack Obama at the White House. Traders had been questioning how BP will handle the mounting costs of the spill, which began April 20 when a rig operated by BP exploded.

"One source of uncertainty has been at least partially resolved," said Brian Gendreau, a market strategist with Financial Network Investment Corp.

The market began the day by falling on news that home construction and applications for building permits slumped in May following the end of a homebuyer tax credit. Meanwhile, FedEx Corp. released a disappointing profit forecast for the fiscal year that began June 1, and that raised more questions about the economic recovery. The package delivery company is seen as a barometer of the economy because shipping demand tends to increase as business conditions improve. The stock fell almost 6 percent.

The Commerce Department's report on housing raised concerns that weaker demand for homes will hurt an economic rebound. Construction of homes and apartments fell 10 percent from a month earlier to an annual rate of 593,000, well below the 650,000 economists had forecast. A 17 percent drop in construction of single-family homes was the largest since January 1991.

Applications for building permits fell 5.9 percent to the lowest level in a year. Analysts had forecast an increase. Demand for permits is an indicator of future homebuilding activity. The weaker-than-expected numbers come after a homebuyer tax credit expired in April.

Kevin Smith, a housing market analyst at Chapdelaine Credit Partners in New York, said the drop in the home construction and permit numbers extends a string of choppy readings since October, and that it's too soon to tell how housing will hold up. He noted that the previous month had been the best in more than two years.

"It's going to be a bumpy ride," Smith said. He said housing won't make a strong recovery until unemployment falls and overall confidence grows.

The homebuyer's credit was part of the government package of stimulus measures designed to help the economy recover from the mortgage and financial crises of 2008. Investors have been uneasy about what would happen to the economy when the government started to withdraw those measures.

Wednesday's trading reflected the juggling act investors have been doing for months. While many of the economic signs in the U.S. show the recovery is proceeding, news like the home construction figures and the FedEx forecast have created doubt about the strength of the rebound. Events like the oil spill, which raises the prospect of a weakened oil giant as well as severe economic fallout from the disaster, have also unnerved traders. And economic problems remain in several European countries.

The Dow rose 4.69, or 0.05 percent, to 10,409.46, its fourth advance in five days. During morning trading, the Dow was down as much as 72.

The S&P 500 fell 0.62, or 0.06 percent, to 1,114.61, and the Nasdaq crept up 0.05 to 2,305.93.

Losing stocks were ahead of advancers by 3 to 2 on the New York Stock Exchange, where consolidated volume came to 5.1 billion shares, up from 4.7 billion on Tuesday.

Bond prices edged higher, pushing down interest rates. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note slipped to 3.27 percent from 3.31 percent late Tuesday.

The Dow is still down more than 7 percent from the 2010 high of 11,205.03 it reached April 26.

Stocks also steadied after the euro pulled off its lows. A Spanish newspaper reported that the International Monetary Fund and European Union were trying to come up with a financial rescue for Spain. That hit the euro and pushed the dollar higher. Officials in Spain denied the report. The country, like Greece and Portugal, is facing high debt loads. The euro fell to $1.2318. Last week it was a four-year low of $1.1878

U.S. markets have been tracking the moves of the 16-nation currency because it is seen as a measure of confidence in Europe's economy. European countries are in the midst of cutting spending, and investors are concerned that those cutbacks could curtail the region's economic rebound, and in turn, the U.S. recovery.

FedEx fell $4.94, or 6 percent, to $78.07. The company said its fiscal 2011 outlook was based on the assumption of a continued "moderate recovery" in the global economy.

BP rose 45 cents, or 1.4 percent, to $31.85. The company's stock is down by nearly half since the day of the explosion, when it was trading at about $60.

Homebuilders fell after the government's report. Toll Brothers Inc. fell 15 cents to $18.78, while KB Home fell 22 cents to $12.93.

Crude oil rose 72 cents to $77.66 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Gold climbed.

The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 2.64, or 0.4 percent, to 666.13.

Britain's FTSE 100 rose 0.4 percent, Germany's DAX index gained 0.3 percent, and France's CAC-40 rose 0.4 percent.
 

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The stock market managed a slender gain Thursday after traders shook off a pair of disappointing economic reports.

Traders began buying late in the session, although without the vehemence that has marked other final-hour moves in recent weeks. The Dow Jones industrial average closed up about 24 points after falling 90 early in the day, and scored its first three-day advance since April. The Standard & Poor's 500 and Nasdaq composite indexes both rose a little more than a point.

The late rebound following downbeat employment and manufacturing news suggests that investors may be getting more confident about the economic recovery, said Philip Orlando, the New York-based chief equity market strategist at Federated Investors.

The NYSE DOW closed HIGHER +24.71 points +0.24% on Thursday June 17
Sym. Last......... ........Change..........
Dow 10,434.17 +24.71 +0.24%
Nasdaq 2,307.16 +1.23 +0.05%
S&P 500 1,116.04 +1.43 +0.13%

30-yr Bond 4.12% -0.78

NYSE Volume 5,243,848,500 (prior day 5,646,613,500)
Nasdaq Volume 1,777,049,500 (prior day 1,946,411,120)


Europe
Symbol.... Last...... .....Change.......
FTSE 100 5,253.89 +15.97 +0.30%
DAX 6,223.54 +32.63 +0.53%
CAC 40 3,683.08 +7.15 +0.19%


Asia
Symbol...... Last...... .....Change.......
Nikkei 225 9,999.40 -67.75 -0.67%
Hang Seng 20,138.40 +76.25 +0.38%
Straits Times 2,840.38 -6.56 -0.23%

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Stock...2.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=1&asset=&ccode=

Stocks eke out gain after downbeat economic data

Stocks eke out slender gain after 2 reports remind traders that economy still has problems


Tim Paradis, AP Business Writer, On Thursday June 17, 2010, 5:53 pm
NEW YORK (AP) -- The stock market managed a slender gain Thursday after traders shook off a pair of disappointing economic reports.

Traders began buying late in the session, although without the vehemence that has marked other final-hour moves in recent weeks. The Dow Jones industrial average closed up about 24 points after falling 90 early in the day, and scored its first three-day advance since April. The Standard & Poor's 500 and Nasdaq composite indexes both rose a little more than a point.

The late rebound following downbeat employment and manufacturing news suggests that investors may be getting more confident about the economic recovery, said Philip Orlando, the New York-based chief equity market strategist at Federated Investors.

"I think we're starting to see a change in psychology," Orlando said. "We're beginning to ignore bad news and focusing on the bigger, better long term picture, and that's encouraging."

Still, investors were also looking for safe holdings, a sign that the economy is uncertain enough for them to hedge their bets. Treasury prices rose, pushing down interest rates, and gold closed at a record high.

The government said early in the day that the number of people seeking unemployment benefits rose unexpectedly last week. Initial claims for jobless benefits increased 12,000 to 472,000. That's the highest level in a month and follows three straight weeks of declines. Economists had forecast another drop.

A drop in the Philadelphia Federal Reserve's index of regional manufacturing also hit stocks. The Philly Fed said manufacturing continued to expand in June but at a slower pace than in May. Its index of manufacturing activity dropped to 8 from 21.4 the month before. Traders were concerned that the slowdown signals that a recovery is fading in one of the strongest parts of the economy.

"It adds up to a modest, uneven recovery," said Paul Ballew, chief economist at Nationwide Insurance in Columbus, Ohio, and a former senior economist with the Federal Reserve. "We're not expecting some light switch being turned on here."

Retailers and other stocks that depend on steady consumer spending fell following the jobs report. Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. fell 7.6 percent, and most other big retailers also ended the day with losses. DirecTV Inc. fell 3.9 percent.

Stocks regarded as safer investments during weak economies such as utilities and health care rose. FirstEnergy Corp. gained 1.6 percent, while health insurer Aetna Inc. climbed 4.5 percent after it forecast that its second-quarter earnings would beat analysts' expectations because of lower medical costs.

A stronger euro helped the market. The euro rose after a bond offering by Spain's government drew solid demand. Traders have been concerned that European countries like Spain with high debt loads would have trouble raising money because of worries about defaults. A stronger euro is seen as a sign of confidence in Europe's ability to cut its debt without jeopardizing an economic rebound. The euro climbed to $1.2396, up more than 5 cents from the four-year low it reached last week.

Traders have been trying to determine where stocks are headed since major stock indexes hit their 2010 peak in late April. The Dow has risen 6.3 percent from its lowest close of the year on June 7 but it's still down almost 7 percent from its high of 11,205 on April 26.

The Dow rose 24.71, or 0.2 percent, to 10,434.17. The last time the average had a three-day advance was April 19-21, shortly before the market began sliding on concerns about Europe's economic problems. The Dow is up 243.28 over the past three days. The bulk of that gain came from an almost 214-point jump on Tuesday.

The S&P 500 index rose 1.43, or 0.1 percent, to 1,116.04, and the Nasdaq rose 1.23, or 0.05 percent, to 2,307.16.

The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note fell to 3.19 percent from 3.27 percent late Wednesday.

Crude oil fell 84 cents to $76.83 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Gold closed at a record $1,248.70 an ounce.

BP fell 14 cents to $31.71. Aetna rose $1.31, or 4.5 percent, to $30.63.

Losing stocks were slightly ahead of gainers on the New York Stock Exchange, where consolidated volume came to 4.6 billion shares, down from 5.1 billion on Wednesday.

The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 0.28, or 0.04 percent, to 665.85.

Britain's FTSE 100 rose 0.3 percent, Germany's DAX index rose 0.5 percent, and France's CAC-40 gained 0.2 percent. Japan's Nikkei stock average fell 0.7 percent.
 

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The Dow's gain of 16 points on Friday was relatively modest, but it capped a surge of 5.2 percent over the past two weeks that puts the average nearly halfway back to the high for the year that it reached on April 26.

All three indicators posted solid gains for the week. The Dow is up 2.3 percent, the S&P 500 2.4 percent and the Nasdaq 3 percent.

The Dow posted its second consecutive weekly gain of more than 2 percent. Before that, the Dow had been down for three weeks. The last time the Dow had a two-week stretch of gains that strong was in November 2009.

Here's something for investors beaten down by the market's sharp declines this spring: The Dow Jones industrial average just had its best two weeks since November.

Stocks had a longer winning streak earlier this year, an eight-week stretch that ended in late April, but those gains were more gradual. Then a sharp drop in May and early June brought the Dow down as much as 12.4 percent below its 2010 high, a decline that market analysts call a "correction."

The NYSE DOW closed HIGHER +16.47 points +0.16% on Firday June 18
Sym. Last......... ........Change..........
Dow 10,450.64 +16.47 +0.16%
Nasdaq 2,309.80 +2.64 +0.11%
S&P 500 1,117.51 +1.47 +0.13%
30-yr Bond 4.1490% +0.2700

NYSE Volume 5,453,905,500 (prior day 5,243,848,500)
Nasdaq Volume 2,060,557,620 (prior day 1,777,049,500)


Europe
Symbol.... Last...... .....Change.......
FTSE 100 5,250.84 -3.05 -0.06%
DAX 6,216.98 -6.56 -0.11%

CAC 40 3,687.21 +4.13 +0.11%

Asia
Symbol...... Last...... .....Change.......
Nikkei 225 9,995.02 -4.38 -0.04%
Hang Seng 20,286.71 +148.31 +0.74%
Straits Times 2,833.40 -10.55 -0.37%

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Stocks-post-biggest-twoweek-apf-2242457624.html?x=0

Stocks post biggest two-week gain since November

Dow Jones industrial average posts its biggest two-week gain since last November


Tim Paradis and Seth Sutel, AP Business Writer, On Friday June 18, 2010, 6:07 pm

NEW YORK (AP) -- Here's something for investors beaten down by the market's sharp declines this spring: The Dow Jones industrial average just had its best two weeks since November.

The Dow's gain of 16 points on Friday was relatively modest, but it capped a surge of 5.2 percent over the past two weeks that puts the average nearly halfway back to the high for the year that it reached on April 26.

Stocks had a longer winning streak earlier this year, an eight-week stretch that ended in late April, but those gains were more gradual. Then a sharp drop in May and early June brought the Dow down as much as 12.4 percent below its 2010 high, a decline that market analysts call a "correction."

The debate now is focusing on whether that correction phase is over. A correction is generally considered a drop of 10-20 percent from a recent peak. The Dow has risen back 6.5 percent from its lowest close of the year on June 7, but it's still down 6.7 percent from its 2010 high.

"I don't know that we're totally through the correction," said Stu Schweitzer, global markets strategist at JPMorgan's Private Bank in New York. "I do expect markets to remain quite volatile all through the rest of this year, but I still expect that we're going to end the year higher."

Minerals companies led other shares higher after gold settled at another record high. Barrick Gold Corp. jumped 3.5 percent, while Newmont Mining Corp. rose 2.6 percent.

Corporate news also brought out buyers. CVS Caremark Corp. rose 1.9 percent and Walgreen Co. rose 2.8 percent after the two companies settled a dispute over pharmacy prescriptions that had threatened to hurt profits. Dow component Caterpillar Inc. gained 1.4 percent after reporting sharply higher sales.

The Dow rose 16.47, or 0.2 percent, to close at 10,450.64. The broader Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 1.47, or 0.1 percent, to 1,117.51. The Nasdaq composite index edged up 2.64, or 0.1 percent, to 2,309.80.

All three indicators posted solid gains for the week. The Dow is up 2.3 percent, the S&P 500 2.4 percent and the Nasdaq 3 percent.

The Dow posted its second consecutive weekly gain of more than 2 percent. Before that, the Dow had been down for three weeks. The last time the Dow had a two-week stretch of gains that strong was in November 2009.

Advancing stocks narrowly outpaced those that fell on the New York Stock Exchange, where consolidated volume came to 4.9 billion shares, versus 4.6 billion the day before. Volume was heavier because of the simultaneous expiration of four kinds of futures and options contracts, which occurs once every quarter.

Trading was relatively quiet considering the options and futures expirations, which can often bring volatility as traders adjust their portfolios. The week that follows the June expiration is often a losing one for investors. The Dow has posted a loss during that week for the past 11 years, according to the Stock Trader's Almanac.

Bond prices slipped, pushing interest rates higher. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note rose to 3.23 percent from 3.20 percent late Thursday.

The dollar edged lower against the British pound and Japanese yen, while the euro edged down versus the dollar. The euro has regained strength over the past week amid encouraging signs in Europe's efforts to control its debt crisis. Spain had successful bond sales this week, and European leaders pledged to disclose the results of stress tests on banks.

Crude oil rose 39 cents to settle at $77.18 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Randy Frederick, director of trading and derivatives at Charles Schwab, said the market's bounce from its recent lows has come too quickly. He said professional traders are building up positions in investments that would cushion their losses if the market fell again.

"Not that we're going into this big ugly bear market but to go back down to the lows that we were at just a few weeks ago, I think, seems very possible based on what I see," Frederick said. "I see a reason to be a little cautious right now."

The coming week brings readings on home sales and consumer sentiment. The Federal Reserve also will meet on interest rates.

Gold settled up $1,258.30 an ounce, a gain of $9.60. Barrick Gold rose $1.56, or 3.5 percent, to $46.38, and Newmont Mining climbed $1.57, or 2.6 percent, to $61.25.

CVS rose 59 cents to $32.43, while Walgreen gained 82 cents to $30.09. Caterpillar gained 90 cents to close at $65.85.

The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies rose 1.07, or 0.2 percent, to 666.92.

4609
 

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Stocks erased big gains Monday after investors lost some of their enthusiasm about China's decision to let its currency appreciate against the dollar.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell about 8 points after climbing nearly 144 in early trading. The Dow had been up the past four days. The Standard & Poor's 500 index also slid and the Nasdaq composite index fell after seven straight gains.

The initial reaction to China's weekend announcement was that a stronger yuan compared with the dollar would allow U.S. manufacturers and exporters to be more competitive selling their products in China. But traders came to see the move as more of a long-term shift rather than something that would give the economy a boost now.

The NYSE DOW closed LOWER -8.23 points -0.08% on Monday June 21
Sym. Last......... ........Change..........
Dow 10,442.41 -8.23 -0.08%
Nasdaq 2,289.09 -20.71 -0.90%
S&P 500 1,113.20 -4.31 -0.39%

30-yr Bond 4.1640% +0.1500

NYSE Volume 5,176,221,000 (prior day 5,453,905,500)
Nasdaq Volume 1,911,339,000 (prior day 2,060,557,620)


Europe
Symbol.... Last...... .....Change.......
FTSE 100 5,299.11 +48.27 +0.92%
DAX 6,292.97 +75.99 +1.22%
CAC 40 3,736.15 +48.94 +1.33%


Asia
Symbol...... Last...... .....Change.......
Nikkei 225 10,238.01 +242.99 +2.43%
Hang Seng 20,912.18 +625.47 +3.08%
Straits Times 2,885.64 +52.24 +1.84%


http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Stock...tml?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=main&asset=&ccode=

Stocks fall after China currency enthusiasm fades

Stocks erase gains after traders re-examine China's plan to let yuan appreciate against dollar


Tim Paradis, AP Business Writers, On Monday June 21, 2010, 5:49 pm

NEW YORK (AP) -- Stocks erased big gains Monday after investors lost some of their enthusiasm about China's decision to let its currency appreciate against the dollar.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell about 8 points after climbing nearly 144 in early trading. The Dow had been up the past four days. The Standard & Poor's 500 index also slid and the Nasdaq composite index fell after seven straight gains.

The initial reaction to China's weekend announcement was that a stronger yuan compared with the dollar would allow U.S. manufacturers and exporters to be more competitive selling their products in China. But traders came to see the move as more of a long-term shift rather than something that would give the economy a boost now.

A drop in the euro also eroded investors' excitement over China's move. A slide in the European currency is seen as a sign of faltering confidence in Europe's ability to contain its debt problems.

Many of China's trading partners complain that the country keeps the yuan artificially low to bolster exports. At the same time, the weak currency makes imported goods expensive for consumers in China. Subodh Kumar, an independent investment strategist in Toronto, said some traders at first mistakenly expected to see a lower yuan make demand from China jump the way it did in 2008 when the country enacted a massive economic stimulus plan.

"The notion is that they're going to get the same kick out of China that they did in 2008," Kumar said. "Most of China's moves are long-term."

But materials companies rose on expectations that demand from China will increase. Aluminum producer Alcoa Inc. gained 5.5 percent, while mining company Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. rose 3 percent.

The news from China hurt retailers because the country's imports would become more expensive. That could cut into earnings, especially since weak consumer spending limits' stores ability to pass higher prices on to their customers. Macy's Inc. fell 3.4 percent, while Wal-Mart Stores Inc. dropped 1 percent.

The focus on China and the euro came on a quiet day with little other news. Light trading volume signaled that many investors were staying out of the market. Traders are looking to a two-day meeting of the Federal Reserve that begins Tuesday. The Fed is expected to keep the federal funds rate, its benchmark interest rate, at historic lows. Traders will be focused on the Fed's assessment of the economy.

The light flow of news left the market vulnerable to more of the big swings that have been common since major stock indexes hit 2010 highs in late April.

"There's nothing down there to move it except rumor and innuendo and traders trying to book a few profits before the end of the day," said James Paulsen, chief investment strategist for Wells Capital Management in Minneapolis, referring to sentiment on trading floors.

The Dow fell 8.23, or 0.1 percent, to 10,442.41. The index had risen 5.2 percent in the past two weeks, its biggest two-week gain since mid-November 2009.

The S&P 500 index fell 4.31, or 0.4 percent, to 1,113.20, and the Nasdaq fell 20.71, or 0.9 percent, to 2,289.09.

Treasury prices fell but were off their lows, while interest rates moved higher. Falling stocks sent more traders searching for the safety of government debt. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 3.25 percent from 3.23 percent late Friday.

The dollar rose against other major currencies and the euro fell.

Prices for many commodities climbed but ended off their highs. Crude oil rose 64 cents to $77.82 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Gold hit a record $1,266.50 an ounce before settling down $17.60 at $1,240.70 an ounce. Copper jumped.

Anadarko Petroleum Corp. rose 88 cents, or 2.1 percent, to $43.45, while Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. rose $2.18, or 3.3 percent, to $68.08.

Alcoa rose 61 cents, or 5.5 percent, to $11.72, while Cliffs Natural Resources rose $1.67, or 3 percent, to $57.89.

A profit warning from California Pizza Kitchen Inc. because of weaker-than-expected sales renewed concerns that consumers will continue to hold back spending while they worry about jobs. California Pizza Kitchen fell $2.06, or 10.9 percent, to $16.83.

Macy's fell 72 cents, or 3.4 percent, to $20.74, while Abercrombie & Fitch dropped 82 cents, or 2.3 percent, to $34.51.

Three stocks fell for every two that rose on the New York Stock Exchange, where consolidated volume came to 4.5 billion shares, compared with 4.9 billion Friday.

The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 6.89, or 1 percent, to 660.03.

Overseas markets jumped following China's announcement. They held on to their gains because they closed earlier than U.S. markets. Britain's FTSE 100 rose 0.9 percent, Germany's DAX index added 1.2 percent, and France's CAC-40 climbed 1.3 percent. Japan's Nikkei stock average rose 2.4 percent, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng jumped 3.1 percent.
 

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Stocks fall on housing fears; oil shares drop as gov't plans to appeal ruling on drilling ban

Stocks dropped for a second day Tuesday after home sales fell unexpectedly and the White House said it would fight a court ruling that lifted its ban on offshore oil drilling.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 149 points, its biggest drop in about two weeks. Treasury prices climbed after demand for safe investments rose.

The National Association of Realtors reported that sales of existing homes fell 2.2 percent in May. The report surprised analysts who thought sales would get a lift from a homebuyer tax credit. Sales fell to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.66 million from a revised 5.79 million in April.

The NYSE DOW closed LOWER -148.89 points -1.43% on Tuesday June 22
Sym. Last......... ........Change..........
Dow 10,293.52 -148.89 -1.43%
Nasdaq 2,261.80 -27.29 -1.19%
S&P 500 1,095.31 -17.89 -1.61%
30-yr Bond 4.0990% -0.6500


NYSE Volume 5,205,618,000 (prior day 5,176,221,000)
Nasdaq Volume 1,901,342,880 (prior day 1,911,339,000)

Europe
Symbol.... Last...... .....Change.......
FTSE 100 5,246.98 -52.13 -0.98%
DAX 6,269.04 -23.93 -0.38%
CAC 40 3,705.32 -30.83 -0.83%

Asia
Symbol...... Last...... .....Change.......
Nikkei 225 10,112.89 -125.12 -1.22%
Hang Seng 20,819.08 -93.10 -0.45%
Straits Times 2,872.30 -13.34 -0.46%


http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Stocks-slide-on-new-concerns-apf-3981291538.html?x=0

Stocks slide on new concerns about housing, banks

Stocks fall on housing fears; oil shares drop as gov't plans to appeal ruling on drilling ban


Tim Paradis, AP Business Writer, On Tuesday June 22, 2010, 5:37 pm

NEW YORK (AP) -- Stocks dropped for a second day Tuesday after home sales fell unexpectedly and the White House said it would fight a court ruling that lifted its ban on offshore oil drilling.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 149 points, its biggest drop in about two weeks. Treasury prices climbed after demand for safe investments rose.

The National Association of Realtors reported that sales of existing homes fell 2.2 percent in May. The report surprised analysts who thought sales would get a lift from a homebuyer tax credit. Sales fell to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.66 million from a revised 5.79 million in April.

Homebuilder Toll Brothers Inc. slid 3.2 percent, while Hovnanian Enterprises Inc. fell 3.5 percent.

Oil stocks fell after the administration said it would appeal a judge's decision to overturn a six-month ban on deepwater oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. Baker Hughes Inc., a supplier of oil drilling parts and services, fell 4.4 percent, while oil-services company Halliburton Inc. fell 3.9 percent.

It was the second straight day that the market gave up early gains to end lower. The selling intensified shortly before 2 p.m. Eastern time, when the benchmark Standard & Poor's 500 index fell below 1,100, its average finish of the past 200 days. Many professionals who use technical factors in their buying and selling decisions consider the 200-day moving average, as it's called, to be a predictor of the market's direction. The drop below 1,110 hastened the market's slide because computer programs kicked in and drove more selling.

"Without much tangible information to sink your teeth into investors are going to rely on technicals and right now the technicals broke down," said Jack Ablin, chief investment officer at Harris Private Bank in Chicago. "There are a lot of extreme emotions right now and not a lot of information."

The slide came as the Federal Reserve held the first part of a two-day meeting at which it's expected to keep its benchmark federal funds rate in the current range of zero to 0.25 percent. The Fed is maintaining low rates because high unemployment and weakness in the housing market have held back an economic rebound.

Christian Hviid, chief market strategist at Genworth Financial Asset Management in Encino, Calif., said traders are concerned that the Fed will issue a more pessimistic view of the economy in the statement that accompanies its decision on interest rates Wednesday. He said expectations for the economy in the second half of the year might have been too high given that borrowing is still restricted and that consumer spending is still weak.

"Not all risk is gone," Hviid said.

The Dow fell 148.89, or 1.4 percent, to 10,293.52, its biggest point and percentage loss since June 4. The index is up 4.9 percent from its 2010 closing low of 9,816 on June 7

The S&P 500 index fell 17.89, or 1.6 percent, to 1,095.31, while the Nasdaq composite index fell 27.29, or 1.2 percent, to 2,261.80.

Bond prices rose Tuesday as investors opted for the safety of U.S. Treasurys. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note, which moves opposite its price, fell to 3.17 percent from 3.25 percent late Monday.

The Dow on Tuesday crossed the unchanged mark 74 times. Peter Tuz, president of Chase Investment Council in Charlottesville, Va., said trading likely will be choppy until July when companies start to report earnings from April-June quarter.

"It's kind of like summer doldrums until earnings season," Tuz said. "Once that begins you start to get clarity."

The euro resumed its slide against the dollar after rising for most of the past 10 days. The euro fell to $1.2267.

The stronger dollar hurts commodity prices by reducing demand from foreign buyers. Crude oil fell 71 cents to $77.90 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Baker Hughes fell $1.94, or 4.4 percent, to $42.15, while Halliburton dropped $1.06, or 3.9 percent, to $25.99.

Toll Brothers fell 57 cents, or 3.2 percent, to $17.06, and Hovnanian fell 14 cents, or 3.5 percent, to $3.90. Apple rose $3.68, or 1.4 percent, to $273.85.

Technology shares fell less than the broader market after Apple Inc. said it sold 3 million iPads in the first 80 days the tablet computers were on sale in the U.S. The stock rose 1.4 percent and helped limit the losses in the tech-heavy Nasdaq.

Four stocks fell for every one that rose on the New York Stock Exchange. Volume came to 1.1 billion shares, in line with Monday.

The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 14.12, or 2.1 percent, to 645.91.

Britain's FTSE 100 fell 1 percent, Germany's DAX index dropped 0.4 percent, and France's CAC-40 fell 0.8 percent. Japan's Nikkei stock average fell 1.2 percent.
 

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Stocks slip after new-home sales tumble, and Fed issues a more cautious take on the economy

The stock market closed with a slight loss Wednesday after sales of new homes hit a record low and the Federal Reserve indicated that problems in Europe pose a threat to the U.S. economy.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose about 5 points, but broader indexes fell and losing stocks outnumbered advancers on the New York Stock Exchange. Treasury prices rose, pushing down interest rates. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note fell to its lowest level in more than a year.

Stocks fell early in the day after the government said new home sales dropped by a third to a record low last month. Sales fell to a seasonally adjusted annual pace of 300,000. Economists polled by Thomson Reuters had forecast sales would drop to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 410,000.

The NYSE DOW closed HIGHER +4.92 points +0.05% on Wednesday June 23
Sym. Last......... ........Change..........
Dow 10,298.44 +4.92 +0.05%

Nasdaq 2,254.23 -7.57 -0.33%
S&P 500 1,092.04 -3.27 -0.30%
30-yr Bond 4.0600% -0.0390


NYSE Volume 5,286,156,000 (prior day 5,205,618,000)
Nasdaq Volume 1,893,307,120 (prior day 1,901,342,880)

Europe
Symbol.... Last...... .....Change.......
FTSE 100 5,178.52 -68.46 -1.30%
DAX 6,204.52 -64.52 -1.03%
CAC 40 3,641.79 -63.53 -1.71%


Asia
Symbol...... Last...... .....Change.......
Nikkei 225 9,923.70 -189.19 -1.87%
Hang Seng 20,856.61 +37.53 +0.18%
Straits Times 2,865.87 -6.43 -0.22%

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Stock...2.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=2&asset=&ccode=

Stocks fall on home sales slump, cautious Fed view

Stocks slip after new-home sales tumble, and Fed issues a more cautious take on the economy


Tim Paradis, AP Business Writer, On Wednesday June 23, 2010, 5:43 pm

NEW YORK (AP) -- The stock market closed with a slight loss Wednesday after sales of new homes hit a record low and the Federal Reserve indicated that problems in Europe pose a threat to the U.S. economy.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose about 5 points, but broader indexes fell and losing stocks outnumbered advancers on the New York Stock Exchange. Treasury prices rose, pushing down interest rates. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note fell to its lowest level in more than a year.

Stocks fell early in the day after the government said new home sales dropped by a third to a record low last month. Sales fell to a seasonally adjusted annual pace of 300,000. Economists polled by Thomson Reuters had forecast sales would drop to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 410,000.

The Dow lost as much as 66 points after the housing numbers came out. On Tuesday, an unexpected slide in sales of existing homes also hurt stocks. Existing homes make up a far bigger part of the market than new homes but traders were braced for more bad news Wednesday.

"I think the market is, thankfully, already getting used to the idea that housing is going to fall off a cliff between the end of the homebuyer tax credit and now," said John Canally, economist at LPL Financial. The homebuyer's credit expired April 30, and its absence is expected to be felt beyond the May sales figures.

Traders picked up stocks of companies that sell consumer staples because they are considered safer in weak economies. Procter & Gamble Co., which makes Tide detergent and Gillette razors, rose 1.1 percent. Kraft Foods Inc. also rose. Fortune Brands Inc., which makes doors, bathroom faucets and other goods used in homes, fell 1.4 percent. Leggett & Platt, whose products include bedding and furniture parts, lost 1.2 percent.

"I can't remember a time where I've seen just so much so much uncertainty," said Adam Gould, senior portfolio manager at Direxion Funds in New York.

The market's moves were subdued for much of the day and trading volume was light, as it has been for weeks. The lack of action in the morning came as traders watched World Cup soccer matches. Cheers erupted on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange when the U.S. beat Algeria.

Traders then found little to do but wait for the Fed's midafternoon announcement. The central bank's economic statement issued after a meeting of its policymaking committee contained few surprises. The Fed said that "financial conditions have become less supportive of economic growth." The Fed cited what it called "developments abroad" but didn't mention Europe by name.

Stocks have fallen from 2010 highs in April on worries that debt problems in Europe would spread and hurt a global rebound.

"The Fed is acknowledging what we're all seeing," said Mike Materasso, co-chair of the fixed income policy committee at Franklin Templeton. "There are problems in Europe, we've gotten a string of data in the U.S. with regard to employment, housing and even retail sales that is disappointing."

The Dow closed with a gain of 4.92, or 0.1 percent, to 10,298.44 after being up nearly 75 points in afternoon trading. The index lost 149 points Tuesday after the home sales report.

The broader Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 3.27, or 0.3 percent, to 1,092.04, and the Nasdaq composite index fell 7.57, or 0.3 percent, to 2,254.23.

Bond prices rose, driving down interest rates. The yield on the 10-year note fell to 3.12 percent from 3.17 percent late Tuesday. It hit the lowest level since May 2009.

The dollar fell against other major currencies. Crude oil fell $1.28 to $76.57 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

The swings in stocks came as traders prepared for a reshuffling Friday of some of the stocks contained in the Russell 2000 index of smaller companies.

Procter & Gamble rose 66 cents, or 1.1 percent, to $61.38, while Kraft rose 18 cents to $29.54.

Fortune Brands fell 59 cents, or 1.4 percent, to $42.99, and Leggett dropped 27 cents, or 1.2 percent, to $21.71.

Homebuilder stocks mostly rose after a recent slide. PulteGroup Inc. advanced 19 cents, or 2.1 percent, to $9.05, while Toll Brothers Inc. rose 43 cents, or 2.5 percent, to $17.49.

Falling stocks narrowly outpaced those that rose on the NYSE, where consolidated volume came to 4.6 billion shares, in line with Tuesday.

The Russell 2000 fell 1.66, or 0.3 percent, to 644.25.

Britain's FTSE 100 fell 1.3 percent, Germany's DAX index dropped 1 percent and France's CAC-40 fell 1.7 percent. Japan's Nikkei 225 stock index fell 1.9 percent.
 

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Stocks drop following downbeat forecasts from retailers; Traders eye costs of bank regulation

Disappointing forecasts from retailers and concern about the government's financial overhaul package pounded stocks Thursday.

The Dow Jones industrial average lost 146 points after edging higher Wednesday. Broader indexes dropped for a fourth straight day.

Downbeat forecasts from retailers raised concerns that high unemployment and weak consumer spending would stall an economic rebound. Nike Inc. dropped 4 percent after saying increased costs could hurt earnings. Bed Bath & Beyond fell 5.6 percent after the home goods retailer's second-quarter earnings forecast missed expectations.

The NYSE DOW closed LOWER -145.64 points -1.41% on Thursday June 24
Sym. Last......... ........Change..........
Dow 10,152.80 -145.64 -1.41%
Nasdaq 2,217.42 -36.81 -1.63%
S&P 500 1,073.69 -18.35 -1.68%

30-yr Bond 4.09% +0.28

NYSE Volume 5,643,810,500 (prior day 5,286,156,000)
Nasdaq Volume 2,055,848,750 (prior day 1,893,307,120)


Europe
Symbol.... Last...... .....Change.......
FTSE 100 5,100.23 -78.29 -1.51%
DAX 6,115.48 -89.04 -1.44%
CAC 40 3,555.36 -86.43 -2.37%


Asia
Symbol...... Last...... .....Change.......
Nikkei 225 9,928.34 +4.64 +0.05%
Hang Seng 20,733.49 -123.12 -0.59%
Straits Times 2,846.88 -24.17 -0.84%


http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Retailers-banks-pull-stocks-apf-391894174.html?x=0&.v=24

Retailers, banks pull stocks lower; Dow slides 146

Stocks drop following downbeat forecasts from retailers; Traders eye costs of bank regulation


Stephen Bernard and Tim Paradis, AP Business Writers, On Thursday June 24, 2010, 6:04 pm EDT

NEW YORK (AP) -- Disappointing forecasts from retailers and concern about the government's financial overhaul package pounded stocks Thursday.

The Dow Jones industrial average lost 146 points after edging higher Wednesday. Broader indexes dropped for a fourth straight day.

Downbeat forecasts from retailers raised concerns that high unemployment and weak consumer spending would stall an economic rebound. Nike Inc. dropped 4 percent after saying increased costs could hurt earnings. Bed Bath & Beyond fell 5.6 percent after the home goods retailer's second-quarter earnings forecast missed expectations.

Dell Inc. lost 6.4 percent after the computer maker's fiscal year forecast failed to top expectations, as some analysts had hoped.

Meanwhile, financial stocks fell after Congress continued working on a bill to overhaul regulation of the industry. Democratic leaders hoped to reconcile the House and Senate bills so President Barack Obama can have a deal in place by the time he meets with the leaders of the Group of 20 nations this weekend in Toronto.

Traders were concerned that some provisions of the bill would cut into bank profits. Large banks were lobbying to strike a proposal that would make the industry cover costs to dismantle the mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Bank of America Corp. dropped 2.7 percent and JPMorgan Chase & Co. lost 2.2 percent.

Economic news didn't help. The government said initial claims for unemployment benefits fell last week but remained above the level that would signal employers are ramping up hiring. A second report indicated that orders for durable goods fell last month for the first time in six months. Orders for big-ticket goods fell 1.1 percent in May. Analysts predicted a 1.3 percent drop.

"There is just such a stagnation in the economy," said Dan Deming, a trader with Stutland Equities in Chicago. Deming said investors are struggling to determine whether the economy can continue to bounce back without as much help from government spending.

"The water is so murky right now," Deming said. "It's just very hard to get a picture of where we're at."

The Dow fell 145.64, or 1.4 percent, to 10,152.80. The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 18.35, or 1.7 percent, to 1,073.69. It was the first four-day drop for the S&P 500 index since early May. The Nasdaq composite index fell 36.81, 1.6 percent, to 2,217.42.

Interest rates were mixed in the Treasury market. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note rose to 3.14 percent from 3.12 percent late Wednesday. The yield had fallen to a 13-month low of 3.07 percent.

The recent drop in rates is good news for borrowers. Freddie Mac said Thursday that the cost of a home loan has fallen this week to the lowest level on record. The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage dropped to 4.69 percent from 4.75 percent last week.

Crude oil rose 16 cents to settle at $76.51 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

The market's moves were also being driven by traders preparing for changes Friday to some of the stocks that make up the Russell 2000 index of smaller companies. The Russell 2000 fell 11.08, or 1.7 percent, to 633.17.

The slump in stocks made clear that anxiety is still ruling the market, after appearing to have waned last week. The Dow and other major stock indexes touched new lows for 2010 earlier this month, then regained some ground when fears about a debt blowup in Europe began to ease.

Now, the concern is that cracks are appearing in the U.S. recovery. Since last week, several reports on housing and jobs have indicated that the economy's biggest trouble spots aren't getting much better. Even manufacturing, which has been one of the strongest areas of the economy, looked weaker in one report last week. Analysts warn against drawing big conclusions from a few reports but investors will want to see some better numbers for stocks to resume their climb.

The latest numbers point to "substantive holes in the economic recovery story," said Tom Samuels, portfolio manager of the Palantir Fund in Houston.

The Federal Reserve said Wednesday that the economy is continuing to recover, but that risks remain. It signaled that the problems in Europe are a risk for the U.S.

Mike Rubino, CEO of Rubino Financial Group in Troy, Mich., said investors had been expecting the economy to improve "at a much faster level" than they're seeing. That disappointment has pulled stocks from their 2010 highs in late April.

The government is set to release its final number Friday on gross domestic product for the first quarter.

Among stocks, Nike fell $2.89, or 4 percent, to $69.63, while Bed Bath & Beyond fell $2.34, or 5.6 percent, to $39.12.

Bank of America fell 41 cents, or 2.7 percent, to $15.02 and JPMorgan dropped 86 cents, or 2.2 percent, to $38.03.

Stocks of health care companies benefited from increased demand for investments considered reliable in a weak economy. Health care and consumer products maker Johnson & Johnson rose 61 cents to $59.60.

More than three stocks fell for every one that rose on the New York Stock Exchange, where consolidated volume came to 4.9 billion shares, compared with 4.6 billion Wednesday.

Britain's FTSE 100 fell 1.5 percent, Germany's DAX index dropped 1.4 percent, and France's CAC-40 fell 2.4 percent. Japan's Nikkei stock average rose 0.1 percent.
 

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Bank stocks shot higher Friday after an agreement on a financial regulation bill reassured investors that new rules won't devastate financial companies' profits.

Banks outdistanced the rest of the market after congressional negotiators agreed on a bill that increases the regulation of financial companies, but that doesn't include some of the harshest provisions that the government originally proposed. The legislation imposes new rules on the complex investments known as derivates, but the rules aren't as strict as investors feared.

It also includes a far milder version of what's been called the Volcker rule. That rule, named after former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker, would have banned commercial banks from trading simply to increase their profits, a practice known as proprietary trading.

The NYSE DOW closed LOWER -8.99 points -0.09% on Friday June 25
Sym. Last......... ........Change..........
Dow 10,143.81 -8.99 -0.09%

Nasdaq 2,223.48 +6.06 +0.27%
S&P 500 1,076.76 +3.07 +0.29%

30-yr Bond 4.0710% -0.1700

NYSE Volume 8,016,598,500 (prior day 5,643,810,500)
Nasdaq Volume 5,003,479,500 (prior day 2,055,848,750)


Europe
Symbol.... Last...... .....Change.......
FTSE 100 5,046.47 -53.76 -1.05%
DAX 6,070.60 -44.88 -0.73%
CAC 40 3,519.73 -35.63 -1.00%


Asia
Symbol...... Last...... .....Change.......
Nikkei 225 9,737.48 -190.86 -1.92%
Hang Seng 20,690.79 -42.70 -0.21%

Straits Times 2,851.64 +4.03 +0.14%

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Bank-...tml?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=main&asset=&ccode=

Bank stocks soar on financial regulation agreement

Bank stocks soar after lawmakers agree on financial regulation bill that's milder than feared


Tim Paradis, AP Business Writer, On Friday June 25, 2010, 5:46 pm EDT

NEW YORK (AP) -- Bank stocks shot higher Friday after an agreement on a financial regulation bill reassured investors that new rules won't devastate financial companies' profits.

Banks outdistanced the rest of the market after congressional negotiators agreed on a bill that increases the regulation of financial companies, but that doesn't include some of the harshest provisions that the government originally proposed. The legislation imposes new rules on the complex investments known as derivates, but the rules aren't as strict as investors feared.

It also includes a far milder version of what's been called the Volcker rule. That rule, named after former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker, would have banned commercial banks from trading simply to increase their profits, a practice known as proprietary trading.

Analysts said the deal removes a huge cloud that has hovered over the financial industry for much of this year. Investors have feared that intense regulation would devastate bank profits. Now, the market seems to believe that financial companies would do well even with the new limits on their business.

"They come out of this big-time winners," Bob Froehlich, senior managing director at Hartford Financial Services, said of financial companies. "Two years later, people will look back and say 'My gosh, nothing really changed.'"

Banks were the market's big performers on a day when the Dow Jones industrial average fell almost 9 points and the other major indexes had only slim gains.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. rose 3.5 percent, while JPMorgan Chase & Co. gained 3.7 percent. Bank of America rose 2.7 percent and Citigroup Inc. rose 4.2 percent.

Regional banks also scored big gains. Suntrust Banks Inc. rose 4.7 percent and Synovus Financial Corp. gained 5.3 percent.

Investors had feared that the financial regulation bill would sharply curtail bank profits by limiting financial companies' ability to trade in derivatives. Companies and investors often use derivatives to hedge against losses. But some derivatives are purely speculative investments, and some of these derivatives have been blamed for contributing heavily to the collapse of the housing market and the 2008 financial crisis.

The legislation calls for most derivatives to be traded on regulated exchanges. But provisions of the bill that were investors' worst-case scenario, for example, an outright ban on banks' trading derivatives, were not included in the final agreement. Banks can still trade derivatives related to interest rates, foreign exchanges, gold and silver, investments that have contributed to their big profits. They would have to use subsidiaries with their own funds in order to trade in riskier derivatives. But the parent bank could still keep the profits from those trades.

"The bill could have been a lot worse," said Alan Valdes, vice president at Hilliard Lyons in New York. "It's a bill we can live with."

The legislation also allows banks to invest only up to 3 percent of their capital in private equity and hedge funds. That is a remnant of the original Volcker rule.

The agreement also alleviated another investor concern. A plan that would have had banks paying for the costs of unwinding mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac was not included in the bill that will now go to the House and Senate for final approval.

One reason why investors seem happy with the agreement is that they know banks will continue to lobby in Washington for looser regulations. In other words: The market doesn't believe that the bill, when it becomes law, will be in stone.

Froehlich also suggested that banks, now having a greater understanding of the regulatory environment, might be more willing to lend. That would help the economic recovery pick up more momentum, he said.

"It was the biggest uncertainty that's out there," Froehlich said. "Now that we know what financial reform is all about I really do believe that they are going to start lending again."

The stock market's overall gains were limited by the government's final report on the gross domestic product for the first quarter. The Commerce Department said the GDP, the broadest measure of the economy's health, rose at a 2.7 percent annual pace rather than the 3 percent previously estimated. The report follows a string of weaker-than-expected economic numbers in the past week and raised investors concerns about the recovery.

The Dow fell 8.99, or 0.1 percent, to 10,143.81. The broader Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 3.07, or 0.3 percent, to 1,076.76, and the Nasdaq composite index rose 6.06, or 0.3 percent, to 2,223.48.

For the week, the Dow is down 2.9 percent, while the S&P 500 is down 3.6 percent and the Nasdaq is off 3.7 percent. The market fell sharply Wednesday and Thursday in response to the disappointing economic reports.

The indexes fluctuated for much of the day, in part because of the annual reshuffling of stocks in the Russell indexes. That forces investors to buy and sell certain stocks if they have portfolios that follow the indexes.

The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies rose 11.94, or 1.9 percent, to 645.11.

Treasury prices rose, driving down interest rates. The 10-year Treasury note's yield fell to 3.11 percent from 3.14 percent late Thursday.

Goldman Sachs rose $4.68, or 3.5 percent, to $139.66, while JPMorgan Chase rose $1.41, or 3.7 percent, to $39.44. Bank of America rose 40 cents, or 2.7 percent, to $15.42, and Citigroup Inc. rose 16 cents, or 4.2 percent, to $3.94.

Suntrust Banks rose $1.14, or 4.7 percent, to $25.51. Synovus gained 14 cents, or 5.3 percent, and closed at $2.80

Almost four stocks rose for every one that fell on the New York Stock Exchange, where consolidated volume came to a heavy 6.28 billion shares, up from 4.94 billion on Thursday. The big volume was the result of the buying and selling in Russell index component stocks.

The FTSE-100 index in London fell 1 percent, while Paris' CAC-40 index fell 1 percent and Frankfurt's DAX index lost 0.7 percent. Earlier, the Nikkei 225 index in Tokyo closed down nearly 2 percent.

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A darkening view of the economy sent bond market interest rates to their lowest level in 14 months and kept many investors out of the stock market.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury note, considered a benchmark because it's used to set rates on consumer loans including mortgages, fell to 3.03 percent Monday, its lowest point since late April 2009. At that time, the markets were still recovering from the devastation of the financial crisis and collapse in stocks.

Investors felt safer making their bets in the bond market and many avoided any kind of stock trades. All the major stock indexes fell by single digits. The New York Stock Exchange traded less than a billion shares on its selling floor, a number that's more likely to be seen in August or late December than in June.

The NYSE DOW closed LOWER -0.05% points -0.09% on Monday June 28
Sym. Last......... ........Change..........
Dow 10,138.52 -5.29 -0.05%
Nasdaq 2,220.65 -2.83 -0.13%
S&P 500 1,074.57 -2.19 -0.20%
30-yr Bond 4.0130% -0.5800

NYSE Volume 4,541,652,000 (prior day 8,016,598,500)
Nasdaq Volume 1,835,645,250 (prior day 5,003,479,500)


Europe
Symbol.... Last...... .....Change.......
FTSE 100 5,071.68 +25.21 +0.50%
DAX 6,157.22 +86.62 +1.43%
CAC 40 3,576.45 +56.72 +1.61%


Asia
Symbol...... Last...... .....Change.......
Nikkei 225 9,693.94 -43.54 -0.45%
Hang Seng 20,726.68 +35.89 +0.17%
Straits Times 2,869.99 +18.35 +0.64%


http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Interest-rates-fall-again-on-apf-8152078.html?x=0

Interest rates fall again on investor pessimism

Interest rates keep falling as investor view of economy dims further; stocks edge lower


Tim Paradis, AP Business Writers, On Monday June 28, 2010, 5:58 pm

NEW YORK (AP) -- A darkening view of the economy sent bond market interest rates to their lowest level in 14 months and kept many investors out of the stock market.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury note, considered a benchmark because it's used to set rates on consumer loans including mortgages, fell to 3.03 percent Monday, its lowest point since late April 2009. At that time, the markets were still recovering from the devastation of the financial crisis and collapse in stocks.

Investors felt safer making their bets in the bond market and many avoided any kind of stock trades. All the major stock indexes fell by single digits. The New York Stock Exchange traded less than a billion shares on its selling floor, a number that's more likely to be seen in August or late December than in June.

Treasurys benefited from investors' growing gloom. The latest bit of bad economic news came from the Commerce Department, which said consumers saved more than they spent last month. The government said consumer spending rose 0.2 percent last month, just above the 0.1 percent growth forecast by economists polled by Thomson Reuters. However, personal income rose 0.4 percent.

Consumer spending remains a sticking point for the economy, which won't have a strong recovery until consumers fell more confident about buying again. With the recovery looking more uncertain, many investors are choosing to go with bonds because they are considered stable. And investors are willing to put up with bonds' lower returns simply because they are safer than stocks.

The 10-year note's 3.03 percent yield compared with 3.11 percent late Friday. It hasn't been this low since April 28 of last year.

Investors are also growing anxious ahead of the release of the government's June employment report on Friday. The May report was troubling because it showed that private employers are hiring few workers. That hurts the economy since consumers aren't likely to spend if they aren't working or are worried about losing their jobs.

Burt White, chief investment officer at LPL Financial in Boston, said the coming weeks will be important for investors because of the jobs report on Friday and the announcement of earnings for the April-June quarter. White said stronger profits could convince businesses to start investing more. That, economists hope, will lead to more hiring.

"Businesses have to commit to this recovery," White said.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 5.29, or 0.1 percent, to 10,138.52 after being up 58 points.

The broader Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 2.19, or 0.2 percent, to 1,074.57. The Nasdaq composite index fell 2.83, or 0.1 percent, to 2,220.65.

Commodities, seen as risky investments along with stocks also fell, but their drop was also influenced by a stronger dollar. A rise in the dollar made commodities more expensive for foreign buyers. Crude oil fell 61 cents to $78.25 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, while gold fell.

The drop in commodities sent raw materials producers falling. Exxon Mobil Corp. 63 cents, or 1.1 percent, to $58.47, while gold producer Freeport-McMoRan fell $1.91, or 2.9 percent, to $64.66.

Meanwhile, tobacco stocks rose after the Supreme Court said it wouldn't take up a case between the government and tobacco makers. The decision prevents the government from getting billions of dollars from makers of cigarettes for anti-smoking campaigns. Reynolds American Inc. rose $2.08, or 4.1 percent, to $53.45, and Altria Group Inc., parent of Philip Morris USA, rose 64 cents, or 3.3 percent, to $20.34.

A separate decision from the court signaled that gun control laws in Chicago and a nearby suburb likely would be struck down by a lower court. That gave a boost to shares of gun makers. Smith & Wesson rose 23 cents, or 5.6 percent, to $4.33, while Sturm, Ruger & Co. climbed 33 cents, or 2.2 percent, to $15.39.

Retailers were hurt by the consumer spending report. Macy's Inc. lost 20 cents, or 1.1 percent, to $18.82, and Amazon.com Inc. fell $3.20, or 2.6 percent, to $117.80. Home Depot Inc. fell 61 cents, or 2 percent, to $29.59.

Eight stocks fell for every seven that rose on the NYSE. Volume on the exchange floor came to 942 million shares. Consolidated volume, which includes shares traded on other exchanges, totaled 3.94 billion, also a very low figure.

The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 3.57, or 0.6 percent, to 641.54.

Britain's FTSE 100 rose 0.5 percent, Germany's DAX index gained 1.4 percent, and France's CAC-40 rose 1.6 percent. Japan's Nikkei stock average fell 0.5 percent.
 

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Stocks and interest rates tumble on fears that recovery will fade; Consumer confidence slumps

No matter where they look, investors are seeing economic trouble.

Stocks and interest rates plunged Tuesday after signs of slowing economies from China to the U.S. spooked traders who were already uneasy about a global recovery. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 268 points, or 2.7 percent, and dropped below 10,000. The benchmark Standard & Poor's 500 index dropped 3.1 percent to close at its lowest level since October.

Interest rates fell in the Treasury market after demand for the safety of government debt grew. The yield on the 10-year note dropped to 2.95 percent, the first time it has fallen below 3 percent since April 2009, when the markets were in the early stages of their recovery from the financial crisis. The yield is used as a benchmark for many consumer loans and mortgages. The yield on the two-year note hit a new low.

The NYSE DOW closed LOWER -268.22 points -2.65% on Tuesday June 29
Sym. Last......... ........Change..........
Dow 9,870.30 -268.22 -2.65%
Nasdaq 2,135.18 -85.47 -3.85%
S&P 500 1,041.24 -33.33 -3.10%
30-yr Bond 3.9460% -0.6700


NYSE Volume 7,257,867,500 (prior day 4,541,652,000)
Nasdaq Volume 2,789,542,250 (prior day 1,835,645,250)


Europe
Symbol.... Last...... .....Change.......
FTSE 100 4,914.22 -157.46 -3.10%
DAX 5,952.03 -205.19 -3.33%
CAC 40 3,432.99 -143.46 -4.01%


Asia
Symbol...... Last...... .....Change.......
Nikkei 225 9,570.67 -123.27 -1.27%
Hang Seng 20,209.97 -516.71 -2.49%
Straits Times 2,830.34 -39.65 -1.38%


http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Stock...tml?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=main&asset=&ccode=

Stocks skid on renewed fears of global slowdown

Stocks and interest rates tumble on fears that recovery will fade; Consumer confidence slumps


Tim Paradis, AP Business Writer, On Tuesday June 29, 2010, 5:58 pm

NEW YORK (AP) -- No matter where they look, investors are seeing economic trouble.

Stocks and interest rates plunged Tuesday after signs of slowing economies from China to the U.S. spooked traders who were already uneasy about a global recovery. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 268 points, or 2.7 percent, and dropped below 10,000. The benchmark Standard & Poor's 500 index dropped 3.1 percent to close at its lowest level since October.

Interest rates fell in the Treasury market after demand for the safety of government debt grew. The yield on the 10-year note dropped to 2.95 percent, the first time it has fallen below 3 percent since April 2009, when the markets were in the early stages of their recovery from the financial crisis. The yield is used as a benchmark for many consumer loans and mortgages. The yield on the two-year note hit a new low.

The markets began the day by following Asian and European stocks lower. Asian exchanges fell after an index that forecasts economic activity for China was revised lower. European stocks continued the slide after Greek workers walked off the job to protest steep budget cuts.

Then, shortly after U.S. trading began, the market was hit with news that consumer confidence fell sharply this month because of worries about jobs and the overall economy. The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index fell to 52.9 from a revised 62.7 in May. It was the steepest drop since February and economists polled by Thomson Reuters had forecast only a modest dip.

Investors are also anxious as they wait for the Labor Department's monthly employment report on Friday. Companies have indicated that business is getting better, yet there are few signs that they are ready to hire in big numbers. The government is expected to say that the unemployment rate rose 0.1 percentage point to 9.8 percent in June.

Industrial stocks suffered some of the steepest drops on fears that a stalled global rebound will cut demand. Aircraft maker Boeing Co. led the Dow lower with a drop of 6.3 percent. Caterpillar Inc., the maker of construction and mining equipment, lost 5.5 percent. Shares of coal producers pulled energy stocks lower on worries about a slowdown.

Investors have been so burned by the financial crisis of 2008-09 that they fear any hint of a slowdown means the economy will start tanking again. And they're selling heavily at the end of the day, fearful about negative economic news that could start coming out of Asia just hours after U.S. trading ends.

Paul Zemsky, head of asset allocation at ING Investment Management in New York, said investors are wrestling with two opposing ideas of where the economy is headed. He said the more likely case is that the recovery continues and corporate earnings growth make stocks look cheap right now. The darker scenario is that government budget cuts, the end of fiscal stimulus, problems in Europe and a slowdown in China lead to a double-dip in the global economy.

Investors' indecision and uneven economic reports have brought big swings to stocks since late April when debt problems in Greece began to pound world markets.

"The central issue that any investor faces today is fire or ice," Zemsky said. "There's no in-between. It's either one or the other."

The Dow fell 268.22, or 2.7 percent, to 9,870.30, its lowest close since June 7. During the last hour, the Dow was down 326.60. The Dow has fallen 428 points, or 4.2 percent, in the past four days.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 33.33, or 3.1 percent, to 1,041.24. It was the lowest close for the S&P since Oct. 5 and the fifth drop of more than 3 percent in the past year. The index is now down 14.5 percent from its 2010 peak in April.

The Nasdaq composite index fell 85.47, or 3.9 percent, to 2,135.18.

Only about 260 stocks rose while about 2,840 fell at the New York Stock Exchange, where consolidated volume came to 6.3 billion shares, compared with a light 3.9 billion Monday.

Mike Shea, managing partner at Direct Access Partners LLC in New York, took some comfort in the fact that the market closed off its lowest level of the day. That signaled that some buyers were willing to step in.

"Getting that little pop at the end of the day -- it's kind of losing a football game 35-0 and then scoring a touchdown in the last five minutes," he said.

Shea cautioned that trading could continue to be volatile Wednesday, which is the final day of the quarter and the first half. For some traders, it's the last day of their fiscal year. "The market can be a little wacky on the last days of quarters," he said.

Crude oil fell $2.31 to $75.94 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

The yield on the two-year Treasury note traded as low as 0.59 percent, below the 0.60 percent from December 2008 during the peak of the financial crisis.

The Chicago Board Options Exchange's Volatility Index rose 17.7 percent. The VIX is known as the market's fear gauge because a rise signals traders are expecting more drops in stocks.

Zemsky said there isn't much until the start of corporate earnings reports next month that likely will give investors solid answers about the direction of the economy. Until then, Friday's June jobs report is the one standout. Even with a good report, investors might still be focused on earnings. The May jobs numbers were a disappointment because private employers hired only 41,000 workers.

"I don't think Friday payrolls can do a lot to bring the market a whole lot higher if they're good. But if they're bad, it's really 'Look out below,'" Zemsky said.

A drop in the euro to $1.2181 was another sign of traders' nervousness. A slide in the 16-nation currency has for months indicated fading confidence in Europe's ability to handle big budget deficits.

Greece is required to make the cuts under terms of a bailout from other European Union members and the International Monetary Fund. Protests over government cost-cutting in Greece renewed concerns about how well European countries will be able to stick to austerity plans.

In other trading, Chinese markets fell after the Conference Board's Leading Economic Index for China was revised to 0.3 percent for April from 1.7 percent.

Boeing fell $4.26, or 6.3 percent, to $63.04 and Caterpillar, also a Dow stock, fell $3.55, or 5.5 percent, to $60.85.

Coal company Peabody Energy Corp. fell $3.16, or 7.4 percent, to $39.33, while mining company Massey Energy Co. fell $2.25, or 7.5 percent, to $27.95.

The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 25.58, or 4 percent, to 615.96.

The Shanghai composite index fell 4.3 percent to a 14-month low. Japan's Nikkei stock average fell 1.3 percent. Britain's FTSE 100 fell 3.1 percent, Germany's DAX index dropped 3.3 percent, and France's CAC-40 fell 4 percent.
 

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Stocks slump for April-June quarter after investors worry they bet too soon on the economy

The stock market closed out a painful second quarter Wednesday and left investors with heavy losses and far more doubts about the economy than they had just months ago.

Stocks had their worst quarterly performance since the financial crisis. The Standard & Poor's 500 index, considered by many professional investors to be the best measure of the market's health, lost 11.9 percent, while the Dow Jones industrial average lost 10 percent. Both indexes are at their lows for 2010.

Meanwhile, Treasury notes and bonds soared during the quarter, driving interest rates sharply lower, as investors turning away from stocks sought a place where their money would be safe. In the early days of the quarter, the yield on the Treasury's 10-year note, used as a base for setting rates on consumer loans including mortgages, was close to 4 percent. By the quarter's end, it had fallen to 2.94 percent.

The NYSE DOW closed LOWER -96.28 points -0.98% on Wednesday June 30
Sym. Last......... ........Change..........
Dow 9,774.02 -96.28 -0.98%
Nasdaq 2,109.24 -25.94 -1.21%
S&P 500 1,030.71 -10.53 -1.01%
30-yr Bond 3.9090% -0.3700

NYSE Volume 6,017,434,000 (prior day 7,257,867,500)
Nasdaq Volume 2,229,297,750 (prior day 2,789,542,250)


Europe
Symbol.... Last...... .....Change.......
FTSE 100 4,916.87 +2.65 +0.05%
DAX 5,965.52 +13.49 +0.23%
CAC 40 3,442.89 +9.90 +0.29%


Asia
Symbol...... Last...... .....Change.......
Nikkei 225 9,382.64 -188.03 -1.96%
Hang Seng 20,128.99 -119.91 -0.59%
Straits Times 2,835.51 +5.17 +0.18%


http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Stock...2.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=1&asset=&ccode=

Stocks end rough quarter with more questions

Stocks slump for April-June quarter after investors worry they bet too soon on the economy


Tim Paradis and Bernard Condon, AP Business Writers, On Wednesday June 30, 2010, 5:56 pm

NEW YORK (AP) -- The stock market closed out a painful second quarter Wednesday and left investors with heavy losses and far more doubts about the economy than they had just months ago.

Stocks had their worst quarterly performance since the financial crisis. The Standard & Poor's 500 index, considered by many professional investors to be the best measure of the market's health, lost 11.9 percent, while the Dow Jones industrial average lost 10 percent. Both indexes are at their lows for 2010.

Meanwhile, Treasury notes and bonds soared during the quarter, driving interest rates sharply lower, as investors turning away from stocks sought a place where their money would be safe. In the early days of the quarter, the yield on the Treasury's 10-year note, used as a base for setting rates on consumer loans including mortgages, was close to 4 percent. By the quarter's end, it had fallen to 2.94 percent.

On the last day of the April-June period, the Dow lost 96 points, and all the big indexes were down about 1 percent.

Using the S&P 500 as a benchmark, stocks had their worst quarterly loss since the fourth quarter of 2008, when the index plunged 22.6 percent. For the first half, the index is down 7.8 percent, its worst first-half showing since the 13.8 percent it loss at the start of 2002.

The market lost about $1.6 trillion in value during the quarter, as measured by the Dow Jones U.S. Total Stock Market Index, which tracks nearly all U.S.-based companies.

Investors spent much of the quarter repeating the same questions they had a year earlier: Can the economy continue its recovery? Analysts say the answer most likely is yes but that traders are realizing it won't be easy.

After reaching its highest point since the financial crisis in April, the market began its plunging in May when investors grew fearful that Greece wouldn't make good on debt payments. Its economy represents only a tiny part of the European Union but traders worried that bad debt would trip up the world's financial system the way it did after the collapse of Lehman Brothers in September 2008. Those fears morphed into concerns about how much countries have been spending to revive growth.

Investors who still feel burned by the losses of the financial crisis also seized on mixed economic news as an indication that the rebound was sputtering. Now, investors are trying to determine how the recovery will play out.

Economist Joel Naroff of Naroff Economic Advisors says investors are disappointed the economy is not growing as strongly as they had anticipated earlier this year amid talk of a so-called V-shaped recovery, in which the economy rebounds sharply after its big drop. But he thinks investors have sold too much.

"They're thinking, 'Gee, if we're not getting a V-shaped recovery, we'll get a double dip.' They've gone from euphoria to depression," Naroff says. "The reality is somewhere in between."

Ted Aronson, a partner at Aronson-Johnson-Ortiz in Philadelphia, was a little baffled by traders' attitudes during the quarter.

"I don't know what's going on. (The markets) are always interesting. But this is really wacky," he said.

Some analysts said the rocky second quarter was to be expected, given the market's history of recovering from big drops like the one stocks suffered during the 2008-09 financial crisis.

Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist of U.S. equity research at Standard & Poor's, dates the end of the latest recession to August of last year. That means the now-complete second quarter is the third full quarter since the recession's end. He noted that stocks drops are not uncommon in such a period; in fact, they happened following three of the four recessions prior to the latest one.

"Investors anticipate what's going to happen (in a recovery), and sometimes they over-anticipate," Stovall said. After a couple of quarters pass, investors go through a "reality readjustment."

And apparently they're still not through at that point: Prices also tend to fall in the fourth quarter after recessions end, though Stovall cautions his data is more a curiosity than conclusive.

The quarter's final day saw a last-hour selloff that has become standard operating procedure, especially when a big economic number like the government's June employment report due out Friday is imminent.

Karl Mills, chief Investment Officer at money manager Jurika, Mills & Kiefer, pointed to a lack of buyers in the market that forced sellers to keep lowering their prices to get someone to buy.

"No one wants to be a hero. Everyone is looking to employment numbers coming out Friday," he said.

The Dow fell 96.28, or 1 percent, to 9,774.02. The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 10.53, or 1 percent, to 1,030.71, while the Nasdaq composite index fell 25.94, or 1.2 percent, to 2,109.24.

Losing stocks outnumbered gainers on the New York Stock Exchange by about 2 to 1. Consolidated volume came to 5.3 billion shares, compared with 6.3 billion on Tuesday.

The industries that suffered the most losses during the quarter were energy companies and materials producers, according to S&P. Both industries were hurt by a drop in commodities prices. Commodities, like stocks, were seen as too risky for many investors to hold on to.

Utilities and telecommunications stocks, while also losing ground, outperformed the rest of the market.

Investors kept shifting their focus during the quarter. When they first began worrying about the possible spillover of Europe's economic problems to the U.S., they were ignoring upbeat signs about the domestic recovery. But as the quarter wore on, U.S. economic reports became more mixed. And while Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and other economists kept making reassuring comments about the recovery, investors gave in to their fears and sold heavily. Triple-digit losses in the Dow became commonplace.

As the third quarter starts, the focus will be on the upcoming jobs report, and, in the weeks ahead, companies second-quarter earnings reports and forecasts for the coming quarters. Any disappointments are likely to keep sending stocks lower.

On Wednesday, ADP said private employers added just 13,000 jobs in June. That's well short of the forecast of 60,000 from economists polled by Thomson Reuters. The ADP report is often seen as a precursor to the government's monthly jobs report, which is expected Friday.

The Labor Department report is expected to say that employers cut 110,000 jobs in June. However, economists predict the bulk of the loss is tied to the government laying off temporary workers hired for the 2010 census.

Companies have been slow to add jobs coming out of the recession. Consumer confidence has fallen and spending has not picked up as investors had hoped because there are still so many people out of work.

As investors pulled out of stocks throughout the quarter, U.S. Treasurys and gold were big beneficiaries. The perceived safety of the two helped push bond and gold prices higher.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury note, which moves opposite its price, went below 3 percent for the first time in more than a year on Tuesday, falling to 2.97 percent. It came off that low Wednesday, rising to 2.94 percent.

Gold rose $1.70 to $1,244.10 an ounce Wednesday, and is up nearly 12 percent for the quarter.

The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 6.47, or 1 percent, to 609.49.

Britain's FTSE 100 edged up 0.1 percent, Germany's DAX index gained 0.2 percent, and France's CAC-40 rose 0.3 percent.
 

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Stocks drop moderately after reports on jobs, manufacturing; Dow industrials fall to 2010 low

Stocks began the third quarter with another loss after reports on jobs, housing and manufacturing raised investors' economic worries.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell nearly 42 points Thursday for its sixth straight loss, although it ended well off its lows ahead of the government's June jobs report. The report is critical because a rebound in jobs is needed for the economy to recover. The numbers are due before the start of trading Friday.

Anthony Chan, chief economist at J.P. Morgan Private Wealth Management in New York, said expectations are now so low that the market could get a pop from the report. "So many people are so set up for such a negative number that even if the number shows any signs of life there may be some sort of a relief rally," Chan said.


The NYSE DOW closed LOWER -41.49 points -0.42% on Thursday July 1
Sym. Last......... ........Change..........
Dow 9,732.53 -41.49 -0.42%
Nasdaq 2,101.36 -7.88 -0.37%
S&P 500 1,027.37 -3.34 -0.32%
30-yr Bond 3.8680% -0.4100


NYSE Volume 7,594,671,500 (prior day 6,017,434,000)
Nasdaq Volume 2,684,100,750 (prior day 2,229,297,750)


Europe
Symbol.... Last...... .....Change.......
FTSE 100 4,805.75 -111.12 -2.26%
DAX 5,857.43 -108.09 -1.81%
CAC 40 3,339.90 -102.99 -2.99%


Asia
Symbol...... Last...... .....Change.......
Nikkei 225 9,191.60 -191.04 -2.04%
Hang Seng 20,128.99 -119.91 -0.59%
Straits Times 2,820.35 -15.16 -0.53%


http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Job-w...0.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=4&asset=&ccode=

Job worries hurt stocks at start of 3rd quarter

Stocks drop moderately after reports on jobs, manufacturing; Dow industrials fall to 2010 low


Tim Paradis, AP Business Writer, On Thursday July 1, 2010, 5:16 pm

NEW YORK (AP) -- Stocks began the third quarter with another loss after reports on jobs, housing and manufacturing raised investors' economic worries.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell nearly 42 points Thursday for its sixth straight loss, although it ended well off its lows ahead of the government's June jobs report. The report is critical because a rebound in jobs is needed for the economy to recover. The numbers are due before the start of trading Friday.

Anthony Chan, chief economist at J.P. Morgan Private Wealth Management in New York, said expectations are now so low that the market could get a pop from the report. "So many people are so set up for such a negative number that even if the number shows any signs of life there may be some sort of a relief rally," Chan said.

The latest economic reports followed a bad second quarter for investors and added to the importance of Friday's snapshot of the labor market.

The government said initial claims for unemployment benefits rose by 13,000 last week to 472,000. Economists had forecast a drop in claims. The report comes a day after payroll company ADP said private employers didn't increase hiring as much as expected last month.

Other economic news added to investors' concerns. The National Association of Realtors said the number of buyers who signed contracts to purchase homes fell to a new low in May following a rush of purchases to meet an April 30 tax credit deadline. Meanwhile, the Institute for Supply Management said its manufacturing index fell in June but that industrial activity still appears to be growing.

There were some pockets of strength in the market Thursday. Retail stocks mostly rose after a private equity firm disclosed that it purchased a 9.5 percent stake in BJ's Wholesale Club Inc. with the intention of taking it private. BJ's shares rose 17.6 percent. Limited Brands Inc., parent of the Victoria's Secret and Bath and Body Works chains, rose 2.9 percent after Fitch Ratings raised its ratings on the company's credit.

The stock market has been sliding on concerns about the economy since hitting its 2010 high in late April. The benchmark Standard & Poor's 500 index dropped nine of the past 10 days. Investors are worried that they were too quick to bet on a rebound after major indexes plunged to 12-year lows in March 2009.

The Dow fell 41.49, or 0.4 percent, to 9,732.53. It was the lowest close since October 2009. It was down as much as 152 points in late morning trading. The Dow hasn't dropped six straight days since mid-January 2009.

The S&P 500 index fell 3.34, or 0.3 percent, to 1,027.37. The Nasdaq composite index fell 7.88, or 0.4 percent, to 2,101.36.

The Dow dropped 10 percent for the April-June quarter, while the S&P 500 index fell 11.9 percent.

The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note, which moves opposite its price, rose to 3 percent from 2.94 percent late Wednesday. Its yield fell below 3 percent this week for the first time in more than a year on fears that the economy would slip back into recession.

There were signs Thursday that some traders think the slide has been overdone: Treasury bond yields rebounded after sliding early in the day. The euro rose sharply against the dollar in a sign of confidence in Europe's economy. Also, the market's fear gauge fell. A drop in stocks usually drives the Chicago Board Options Exchange's Volatility Index higher. Instead, the VIX dropped 4.9 percent.

John Canally, economist at LPL Financial in Boston, said traders were so scarred by the market's crash in 2008-09 that they have seeing lackluster economic numbers as signs that growth is going to disappear rather than just slow.

"You see this almost every time 12-15 months after the end of a recession. You hit sort of a soft spot," Canally said.

Canally said the likelihood of a so-called "double dip," in which the economy begins to shrink again, has risen in the past month to about 20 percent from 10 percent. He said investors are far more pessimistic. "I would say the market is now over 50" percent, he said.

The dollar fell Thursday along with commodities including oil and gold. Crude oil fell $2.68, or 3.5 percent, to $72.95 per barrel.

The June jobs report is expected to show that employers cut about 110,000 positions for the month. That figure reflects the loss of about 240,000 temporary census jobs.

Investors are more focused on hiring by businesses because that is a key factor needed to revive the economy. Economists polled by Thomson Reuters forecast that private employers added 112,000 jobs. That would be far above the 41,000 added in May. The overall unemployment rate is expected to rise to 9.8 percent from 9.7 percent in May.

Among individual stocks, BJ's rose $6.22, or 16.8 percent, to $43.23, while Limited rose 63 cents, or 2.9 percent, to $22.70.

Two stocks fell for every one that rose on the New York Stock Exchange, where volume came to 1.1 billion shares compared with 790 million traded at the same point Wednesday.

The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 5.30, or 0.9 percent, to 604.19.

Britain's FTSE 100 dropped 2.3 percent, Germany's DAX index fell 1.8 percent, and France's CAC-40 lost 3 percent. Japan's Nikkei stock average fell 2 percent.
 

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