EQUITIES

The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq rose on Tuesday as better-than-expected factory orders and a surge in vehicle sales at Ford Motor Co provided more evidence of an economic recovery.

The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq rose on Tuesday as better-than-expected factory orders and a surge in vehicle sales at Ford Motor Co provided more evidence of an economic recovery.

The benchmark S&P 500 closed at a fresh 15-month closing high on Tuesday as data showing that factory orders rose for a third straight month in November offset a report that pointed to more weakness in the housing market.

The Dow and Nasdaq slipped on Tuesday as a plunge in pending home sales increased concerns about the housing market a day after stocks rose to 15-month highs.

The Dow industrials slipped on Tuesday as a plunge in November pending home sales increased concerns about the housing market, though a sign of improvement in the manufacturing sector limited losses.

The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq gained on Tuesday as investors welcomed further signs of improvement in the manufacturing sector, brushing off a sharp slump in pending home sales for November.

Stocks briefly added to losses on Tuesday after data showed a much bigger-than-expected decline in pending home sales.

Stocks opened little changed on Tuesday as investors awaited key economic data for new signs of economic recovery, a day after the Dow and the S&P 500 closed at 15-month highs.

Stock index futures pointed to a flat open on Tuesday as investors awaited key economic data for new signs of recovery one day after the Dow and the S&P rallied to their highest closes in more than 15 months.

Stock index futures were flat on Tuesday as investors awaited key economic data for fresh signs of an economic recovery a day after the Dow and the S&P rallied to their highest closes in more than 15 months.

Stock index futures were flat on Tuesday as investors awaited key economic data for fresh signs of an economic recovery a day after the Dow and the S&P rallied to their highest closes in more than 15 months.

U.S. stock index futures were flat on Tuesday as investors awaited factory orders and pending home sales data for more signs about an economic recovery a day after the Dow and the S&P rallied to their highest closes in more than 15 months.

U.S. stock index futures were flat on Tuesday as investors awaited factory orders and pending home sales data for more signs about an economic recovery a day after the Dow and the S&P rallied to their highest closes in more than 15 months.

Futures for the Dow Jones industrial average, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq 100 fell 0.02 to 0.2 percent, pointing to a weaker start on Wall Street on Tuesday.

Asia stocks rose to a 17-month high on Tuesday as growing confidence about the prospects for the global economy drew investors to riskier assets and away from the dollar, which extended its weak start to the year.

Growing confidence about the global economy lifted Asian stocks to a fresh 17-month high on Tuesday as investors continued to be drawn to riskier assets, while the dollar stabilized after a weak start to the year.

Google Inc is expected to unveil its highly anticipated Nexus One smartphone on Tuesday, marking a first foray into an increasingly crowded market that could shape the future of the company's advertising business.

Stocks climbed broadly on Monday after a report showed the manufacturing sector expanded for a fifth straight month, lifting confidence in the global economy as investors eye fourth quarter earnings.

Stocks climbed broadly on Monday after a report showed the manufacturing sector expanded for a fifth straight month, lifting confidence in the global economy as investors eye fourth quarter earnings.

U.S. stocks climbed in a commodities-fueled rally on Monday after data showed the manufacturing sector expanded for a fifth straight month, lifting confidence in a global economic recovery.

U.S. stocks rallied in the first session of the New Year on Monday, after data showed the manufacturing sector grew for the fifth straight month and a brokerage upgrade of Intel helped lift semiconductor stocks.

U.S. stocks climbed on Monday, rallying in the first session of the new year, after data showed the manufacturing sector expanded for the fifth straight month and a brokerage upgrade of Intel helped lift semiconductor stocks.

U.S. stocks jumped on Monday after data showed a fifth straight month of expansion in the manufacturing sector and semiconductor stocks gained on a brokerage upgrade of Intel.

U.S. stocks moved up at the open on Monday, the first trading day of 2010, on a rise in crude oil and other commodity prices and ahead of data expected to show expansion in the manufacturing sector.

U.S. stock index futures rose on Monday, as crude oil prices rose on jitters over an oil dispute between Russia and Belarus and as Novartis moved to buy eye care group Alcon in a $39 billion deal.

Financial markets were upbeat on the first trading day of 2010 on Monday, with Asian stocks hitting a 17-month high and the U.S. dollar up against major currencies on hopes U.S. job figures this week will reflect a sustained economic recovery.

U.S. stocks closed out 2009 with the best performance in six years, but monthly employment figures in the first week of the new year will keep investors focused on what is likely to be 2010's reality -- the economy's struggle to recover.

U.S. stocks ended 2009 on Thursday with their best gains since 2003, driven by optimism about the economy's recovery and a brighter outlook for profits.

U.S. stocks ended 2009 on Thursday with their best gains since 2003, with optimism about the economy's recovery pushing the benchmark Standard & Poor's index up 23.5 percent for the year.