Markets Post Modest Recovery

Comments from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke boosted the markets to a modestly higher close after yesterday's steep plunge. The Dow climbed 52 points to 12,269 while Nasdaq gained 8 points to 2416. S&P 500 rose 8 points to 1407. The 30-year bond eased as the yield edged up to 4.669%.

Markets Attempt Recovery

The markets continued to advance during the midday in an attempt to recover from yesterday's steep losses. The Dow soared 98 points to 12,314 while Nasdaq climbed 14 points to 2422. S&P 500 surged 10 points to 1409. The 30-year bond eased as the yield rose to 4.678%.

Markets Plunge Following Sharp Chinese Market Drop

The steepest slide in a decade on the Chinese market rattled investors and sent the markets spiraling down to close sharply lower. The Dow plummeted 416 points, the largest deline since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, to 12,216. Nasdaq plunged 97 points to 2408 while S&P 500 tumbled 50 points to 1399. The 30-year bond rose as the yield fell to 4.630%.

Markets Lower Following Sharp Drop On Chinese Market

The markets extended its losses during the midday following a sharp drop on the Chinese stock market. The Dow plummeted 169 points to 12,463 while Nasdaq plunged 51 points to 2452. S&P 500 tumbled 23 points to 1426. The 30-year bond rose as the yield edged down to 4.688%.

Recession Fears Weigh Down Markets

The markets closed lower as former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan warned of a possible recession by the end of the year. The Dow fell 15 points to 12,632 while Nasdaq dropped 11 points to 2505. S&P 500 slipped 2 points to 1449. The 30-year bond edged up as the yield eased to 4.733%.

Markets Lower At Midday Over Oil Prices

Rising oil prices weighed down the markets during the midday with the Dow dropping 34 points to 12,614 while Nasdaq fell 19 points to 2496. S&P 500 lost 5 points to 1447. The 30-year bond edged up as the yield eased to 4.744%.

Markets Close Lower As Oil Rises

The markets closed lower as oil prices rose above $61 a barrel. The Dow fell 39 points to 12,647 while Nasdaq lost 10 points to 2515. S&P 500 slipped 5 points to 1451. The 30-year bond rose as the yield eased to 4.782%.

Markets Lower As Oil Rises

The markets extended its losses during the midday as oil prices rose. The Dow tumbled 47 points to 12,639 while Nasdaq dropped 10 points to 2515. S&P 500 fell 6 points to 1450. The 30-year bond edged up as the yield eased to 4.772%.

Markets Close Mixed As Oil Rises

The markets closed mixed as jobless claims fell and oil prices rose. The Dow dropped 52 points to 12,687 while Nasdaq added 7 points to 2525. S&P 500 slipped a point to 1456. The 30-year bond eased as the yield inched up to 4.830%.

Markets Fall Over Oil

The markets turned negative during the midday as a drop in gas and heating oil inventory lifted oil prices. The Dow tumbled 59 points to 12,680 while Nasdaq slipped 4 points to 2515. S&P 500 lost 4 points to 1454. The 30-year bond eased as the yield inched up to 4.827%.

Markets Close Mixed As Prices Rise

The markets closed mixed as consumer prices rose by a larger than expected amount in January. The Dow fell 48 points to 12,738 while Nasdaq rose 5 points to 2518. S&P 500 lost 2 points to 1458. The 30-year bond eased as the yield edged up to 4.789%.

Markets Down Over Rise In Prices

A surprising gain in consumer prices weighed down the markets during the midday with the Dow falling 60 points to 12,727 while Nasdaq lost 4 points to 2509. S&P 500 fell 4 points to 1456. The 30-year bond eased as the yield edged up to 4.796%.

Upbeat Fed Official Comments Lift Markets To Higher Close

Comments from Federal Reserve Governor Susan Bies that the housing slump may be over lifted the markets to a modestly higher close with the Dow gaining 19 points to 12,787. Nasdaq climbed 17 points to 2513 while S&P 500 added 4 points to 1460. The 30-year bond inched up as the yield eased to 4.780%.

Markets Turn Positive At Midday

The markets reversed course to trade in positive territory during the midday with the Dow climbing 15 points to 12,783. Nasdaq rose 13 points to 2509 while S&P 500 added 3 points to 1459. The 30-year bond inched up as the yield eased to 4.781%.

Markets Flat As Oil Rises

The markets closed near the flatline as oil prices surged and new home construction plunged. The Dow added 3 points to 12,768 while Nasdaq lost a point to 2496. S&P 500 slipped a point to 1456. The 30-year bond edged up as the yield eased to 4.788%.

Markets Lower As Wholesale Prices Slip

The markets continued trading in negative territory during the midday as wholesale prices slipped. The Dow fell 15 points to 12,750 while Nasdaq dropped 8 points to 2489. S&P 500 lost 3 points to 1453. The 30-year bond edged up as the yield eased to 4.795%.

Markets Close Up On Fed Comments

Investors confident that the Federal Reserve will hold interest rates steady lifted the markets to a higher close with the Dow setting another record. The blue chip index added 23 points to 12,765 while Nasdaq rose 9 points to 2497. S&P 500 gained 2 points to 1457. The 30-year bond edged up as the yield eased to 4.804%.

Markets Higher Over Strong Economy

The markets traded modestly higher during the midday as Fed Chief Bernanke testified that the economy may be growing stronger than expected. The Dow climbed 23 points to 12,765 while Nasdaq gained 4 points to 2492. S&P 500 added a point to 1456. The 30-year bond edged up as the yield eased to 4.797%.

Bernanke's Optimism Lifts Markets To Higher Close

The markets closed higher over Fed Chief Bernanke's optimism about the economy. The Dow soared 87 points to 12,742 while Nasdaq surged 29 points to 2488. S&P 500 climbed 11 points to 1455. The 30-year bond rose as the yield eased to 4.826%.

Bernanke's Comments Lift Markets Higher

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's optimistic comments about the economy lifted the markets higher during the midday with the Dow climbing 81 points to 12,735. Nasdaq soared 31 points to 2491 while S&P 500 gained 10 points to 1455. The 30-year bond rose as the yield eased to 4.845%.

Alcoa's Possible Sale Lifts Markets Higher

Speculation that Alcoa may be purchased lifted the markets higher during the midday with the Dow surging 99 points to 12,651. Nasdaq added 9 points to 2459 while S&P 500 climbed 9 points to 1443. The 30-year bond eased as the yield inched up to 4.899%.

Markets Close Lower As Several Acquisition Talks End

Disappointment over failed acquisition deals weighed down the markets to a lower close with the Dow dropping 28 points to 12,553. Nasdaq fell 9 points to 2450 while S&P 500 lost 5 points to 1433. The 30-year bond eased as the yield inched up to 4.886%.

Stalled Acquisitions Weigh Down Markets

The markets continued to trade in negative territory during the midday despite falling oil prices as disappointed investors mulled over several stalled acquisitions attempts. The Dow lost 14 points to 12,566 while Nasdaq slipped 9 points to 2451. S&P 500 fell 3 points to 1436. The 30-year bond eased as the yield inched up to 4.878%.

Markets Mixed At Midday

The markets traded mixed during the midday with the Dow adding 5 points to 12,643. Nasdaq fell 9 points to 2480 while S&P 500 lost a point to 1447. The 30-year bond eased as the yield rose to 4.868%.

Markets Close Lower Over Housing Concerns

Concerns about an extended slump in the housing sector weighed down the markets to a lower close. The Dow dropped 29 points to 12,638 while Nasdaq slipped 2 points to 2489. S&P 500 lost 2 points to 1448. The 30-year bond edged up as the yield eased to 4.837%.

Markets Extend Losses Despite Strong Retail Sales

The markets extended its losses during the midday even as January retail sales beat expectations. The Dow tumbled 74 points to 12,593 while Nasdaq dropped 8 points to 2483. S&P 500 fell 6 points to 1444. The 30-year bond inched up as the yield eased to 4.852%.

Improved Productivity Lifts Markets To Higher Close

Improved worker productivity in the fourth quarter lifted the markets to a higher close with the Dow inching up a fraction to 12,667. Nasaq climbed 19 points to 2491 while S&P 500 added 2 points to 1450. The 30-year bond inched up as the yield eased to 4.852%.

Markets Higher As Productivity Rises

Strong gains in productivity in the fourth quarter lifted the markets higher during the midday with the Dow rising 24 points to 12,691. Nasdaq climbed 21 points to 2492 while S&P 500 added 4 points to 1452. The 30-year bond inched up as the yield eased to 4.851%.

Markets Close Flat

The markets closed near the flatline as oil prices edged up. The Dow rose 5 points to 12,666 while Nasdaq added a point to 2471. S&P 500 gained a point to 1448. The 30-year bond inched up as the yield eased to 4.87%.

Oil Prices Weigh Down Markets At Midday

Rising oil prices weighed down the markets during the midday with the Dow losing 15 points to 12,647. Nasdaq fell 13 points to 2457 while S&P 500 slipped 2 points to 1445. The 30-year bond inched up as the yield eased to 4.889%.

Mixed Close For Markets

The markets closed mixed despite a flurry of mergers and acquisitions. The Dow gained 8 points to 12,662 while Nasdaq lost 5 points to 2471. S&P 500 slipped a point to 1447. The 30-year bond inched up as the yield eased to 4.910%.

Markets Mixed At Midday

The markets traded mixed during the midday as oil prices rose. The Dow added 10 points to 12,663 while Nasdaq fell 3 points to 2473. S&P 500 eased a point to 1448. The 30-year bond rose as the yield slipped to 4.908%.

Markets Close Mixed Over Unemployment Rate

The markets closed mixed over an unexpected uptick in the nation's unemployment rate. The Dow lost 20 points to 12,653 while Nasdaq gained 8 points to 2476. S&P 500 added 2 points to 1448. The 30-year bond inched up as the yield eased to 4.926%.

Markets Mixed As Unemployment Rate Climbs

The markets traded mixed during the midday as the nation's unemployment rate unexpectedly climbed in January. The Dow fell 14 points to 12,660 while Nasdaq rose 8 points to 2477. S&P 500 added 3 points to 1449. The 30-year bond inched up as the yield eased to 4.923%.

Upbeat Consumer Spending Lifts Markets To Higher Close

Upbeat consumer spending boosted the markets to close higher with the Dow setting another record. The blue chip index soared 52 points to 12,674 while Nasdaq added 4 points to 2468. S&P 500 rose 8 points to 1446. The 30-year bond eased as the yield inched up to 4.933%.