Strong corporate earnings led Wall Street to a 29-month closing high for a second day on Thursday, but another run of big gains may be harder to achieve.
Shares of Amazon.com rose on Thursday, hours before the Web retailer is expected to report impressive quarterly revenue gains from the holiday season, though 2011 profit margins may temper investor enthusiasm.
U.S. stocks rose modestly on Thursday on earnings, holding near 29-month highs, but technical gauges suggested near-term resistance to strong gains.
Caterpillar Inc reported a higher-than-expected quarterly profit and raised its sales forecast, sending its shares to an all-time high, as rising commodity prices increased mining industry demand for its earth-moving equipment.
Stock indexes held near 29-month highs on Thursday as buyers took their cues from companies reporting strong numbers, like Netflix, but the short-term technical picture suggested big gains are going to be hard to achieve.
Standard & Poor's cut Japan's credit rating on Thursday for the first time since 2002, saying Tokyo had no plan to deal with its mounting debt, a warning that could rattle other heavily indebted rich countries.
Invesco Ltd , one of the largest U.S. mutual fund companies, reported a higher-than-expected quarterly profit as it benefited from a big acquisition and increases in global stock markets.
The Dow and S&P were little changed on Thursday as disappointing labor market data offset strong results from Caterpillar, but a strong outlook from Qualcomm lifted the Nasdaq.
Rating agency Standard & Poor's cut Japan's long-term sovereign debt rating on Thursday for the first time since 2002, saying the country's government lacked a coherent plan to tackle its mounting debt.
Stock index futures were slightly higher on Thursday, a day after the S&P 500 closed at a 29-month high as several bellwether companies reported strong results.
Stock index futures were little changed on Thursday, a day after the S&P 500 closed at a 29-month high as investors looked ahead to a new round of data and corporate earnings.
Stock index futures pointed to a flat to weaker start for Wall Street on Monday, with futures for the S&P 500 down 0.1 percent, while futures for the Dow Jones and the Nasdaq traded flat by 5:18 a.m. EST.
America's college and university endowment funds recorded an 11.9 percent return last year, aided by big bets on alternative investments like hedge funds but helped even more by traditional stock and bond selections.
The yen fell and investors took a cautious stance on stocks and riskier assets on Thursday after Standard & Poor's cut Japan's credit rating in a forceful reminder of the fragile state of some leading countries' finances.
The U.S. dollar held near 2-1/2 month lows on Thursday, while commodity prices and Asian stocks rose after U.S. Federal Reserve policymakers voted unanimously to maintain a $600 billion bond-buying plan to fuel an economic recovery.
World stocks and crude oil gained on Wednesday, shrugging off a lukewarm outlook from the Federal Reserve, as investors latched onto the growth prospects of U.S. President Barack Obama's pledge to trim spending.
The U.S. dollar slipped on Thursday to 11-week lows, while commodity prices and Asian stocks rose after U.S. Federal Reserve policymakers voted unanimously to maintain a $600 billion bond-buying plan to fuel an economic recovery.
U.S. short-term interest rate futures traders pared bets that the Federal Reserve will start raising rates this year after the central bank left rates near zero and reiterated its promise to keep them there for an extended period.
The S&P 500 closed at a 29-month high on Wednesday led by gains in tech and commodity shares, as investors largely ignored the U.S. Federal Reserve's lukewarm economic assessment.
The S&P 500 closed at a 29-month high on Wednesday, led by gains in commodity and technology shares, as investors largely ignored the U.S. Federal Reserve's lukewarm economic assessment.
U.S. stocks rose on Wednesday with the S&P 500 hitting a 29-month high, led by gains in commodity and tech shares after the U.S. Federal Reserve gave a lukewarm economic assessment.
Investors fearful that high-flying stocks may be set for a drubbing will be eyeing Netflix's earnings with their fingers on the sell button on Wednesday afternoon.
The S&P 500 closed at a 29-month high on Wednesday led by gains in tech and commodity shares, as investors largely ignored the U.S. Federal Reserve's lukewarm economic assessment.
It is realistic that the U.S. Treasury will sell all of its General Motors Co stock within a year, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing an unnamed Treasury official.
The S&P 500 closed at a 29-month high on Wednesday, led by gains in commodity and technology shares, as investors largely ignored the U.S. Federal Reserve's lukewarm economic assessment.
The S&P 500 hit a 29-month high on Wednesday as investors snapped up commodity and tech shares ahead of the Federal Reserve's statement, expected to continue to be supportive of markets.
Stocks rose on Wednesday as U.S. President Barack Obama's call for a lower corporate tax rate offset a weak outlook from Boeing.
Three big U.S. manufacturers reported results that topped Wall Street's expectations, citing recovering demand in everything from corporate jets to equipment to run factories more efficiently.
Stock index futures edged higher on Wednesday, hours after U.S. President Barack Obama called for a lower corporate tax rate to boost the economy, but a drop in Boeing's profit limited gains.
Stock index futures were higher on Wednesday, hours after President Barack Obama stressed a freeze on government spending and the need to lower corporate tax rates.
