EQUITIES

Optimism about corporate earnings, bolstered by JPMorgan Chase & Co, lifted the stock market slightly on Friday, offsetting lukewarm economic data and putting the S&P 500 on track for a seventh straight week of gains.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a lower open on Friday after weak retail sales and a mixed reaction to JPMorgan Chase & Co's quarterly earnings.

U.S. stock index futures fell on Friday despite strong quarterly results from JPMorgan Chase & Co as the Dow Industrials and S&P 500 looked to close out a seventh week of gains.

U.S. stock index futures were lower on Friday despite strong quarterly results from JPMorgan Chase as the Dow Industrials and S&P 500 looked to close out a seventh week of gains.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a flat to lower open on Wall Street on Friday, with futures for the S&P 500 down 0.2 percent, Dow Jones futures down 0.02 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.04 percent at 5:11 a.m. ET.

The euro paused on Friday but was still on track to post its best weekly performance against the dollar in 20 months, while Asian equity markets struggled to extend recent gains, with Japan's Nikkei retreating from an 8-month peak.

The euro surged on Thursday, taking on renewed vigor after better-than-forecast debt auctions by Spain and Italy and a hawkish rate view from the ECB but weak U.S. jobless claims data weighed on U.S. stocks.

Intel Corp beat Wall Street's fourth-quarter profit and sales estimates, and forecast higher-than-expected revenue in the current quarter.

Mattress maker Sealy Corp's quarterly profit edged past market expectations, helped by strong demand in its international markets and on lower costs.

Stocks edged lower on Thursday, hurt by a slide in drugmaker Merck and as falling commodities prices hit shares of natural resource companies.

Stocks edged lower on Thursday, hurt by a slide in drugmaker Merck and as falling commodities prices hit shares of natural resource companies.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a slightly lower open on Thursday as the number of first-time claims for jobless benefits rose unexpectedly, highlighting the bumpy ride for employment as economic growth picks up.

U.S. stock index futures traded flat on Thursday, coming off a broad rally in the previous session, as investors looked ahead to labor market data and results from Intel, the first major technology company to report earnings.

U.S. stock index futures were little changed on Thursday, coming off a broad rally in the previous session, as investors looked ahead to labor market data and results from Intel, the first major technology company to report.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a slightly lower open on Wall Street on Thursday, with futures for the S&P 500 down 0.15 percent, Dow Jones futures down 0.02 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures down 0.03 percent at 1:46 a.m. EST.

Stocks ended solidly higher on Wednesday after European debt fears eased and sparked a broad advance, led by banks and commodity-related shares.

U.S. stocks rose on Wednesday after a healthy bond auction in Portugal eased nervousness about the euro zone's debt crisis while a spike in food prices lifted agricultural shares.

U.S. stocks rose on Wednesday after a healthy bond sale in Portugal eased nervousness about the euro zone's debt crisis and investors pushed U.S. bank shares higher on signs of strength.

U.S. stocks rose on Wednesday after a healthy bond sale in Portugal helped ease concern over the latest sovereign debt crisis to crop up in Europe and signs of strength in the U.S. banking sector.

U.S. stock indexes were set to rise at the open on Wednesday after a healthy bond sale in Portugal and signs of strength in the U.S. banking sector.

U.S. stock index futures rose sharply on Wednesday after a healthy bond sale in Portugal and signs of strength in the U.S. banking sector.

U.S. stock index futures rose sharply on Wednesday, tracking global stocks, after a healthy bond sale in Portugal eased worries about Lisbon's ability to finance itself.

Energy shares helped the Dow and S&P 500 end a three-day losing streak on Tuesday, even as investors worried rising fuel costs will undercut economic growth.

Energy shares led U.S. stocks to modest gains on Tuesday as crude prices jumped, but consumer-related and transportation shares limited the rise.

U.S. stocks rose on Tuesday after several fourth-quarter earnings reports and outlooks came in higher than expected, putting the S&P 500 index on course to snap three straight sessions of declines.

U.S. stocks rose on Tuesday after several fourth-quarter earnings reports and outlooks came in higher than expected, putting the S&P 500 index on track to snap three straight sessions of declines.

Lennar Corp , the third-largest U.S. homebuilder, reported quarterly results that bested Wall Street estimates and said it expected a profitable 2011, sending its shares up more than 7 percent.

U.S. stocks rose on Tuesday as the first major set of fourth-quarter earnings came in largely higher than expected, suggesting that the recent run-up in anticipation of results was justified.

Stock index futures indicated a higher open for Wall Street on Tuesday after Alcoa , the largest U.S. aluminum producer, kicked off the earnings season by beating forecasts.