NEWS

Stocks jumped on Thursday as expectations of reassuring quarterly results from bellwethers including Google lifted technology shares, while JPMorgan's better-than-expected profit added to bank stabilization hopes.

Stocks rose on Thursday as JPMorgan's better-than-expected profit added to optimism about bank stabilization, while expectations of reassuring technology results boosted bellwethers like Hewlett-Packard and Google Inc .

The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq rose on Thursday after JPMorgan posted better-than-expected earnings and amid a flurry of positive news on the technology front.

The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq rose on Thursday after JPMorgan posted better-than-expected earnings and amid a flurry of positive news on the technology front.

The Dow and the S&P 500 fell on Thursday as some investors doubted that banks would sustain strong first-quarter performance as unease about the economy's health persist.

General Growth Properties Inc, the second-largest U.S. mall owner, declared bankruptcy on Thursday in the biggest real estate failure in U.S. history.

Southwest Airlines reported a larger-than-expected quarterly loss on Thursday as demand weakened in the recession and said it would offer voluntary employee buyouts in a bid to reduce costs, sending its shares down more than 11 percent.

The Dow and S&P 500 lost ground on Thursday as some investors fretted about the quality of bank earnings, which weighed on financial shares, and after a report that IBM was not interested in further negotiations with Sun Microsystems Inc.

Stocks opened higher on Thursday as JPMorgan Chase & Co reassured some investors about the health of banks after it reported better-than-expected quarterly results and following several positive reports from the technology sector.

Stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Thursday as JPMorgan Chase & Co reassured some investors about the health of banks after it reported better-than-expected quarterly results and following several reassuring reports on the technology sector.

Stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Thursday after top cell phone maker Nokia reassured investors by reaffirming its handset market forecast and a report said that Sun Microsystems Inc is willing to resume takeover talks with IBM .

Stock futures pointed to a lower open on Thursday after the bankruptcy of General Growth Properties offset better-than-expected quarterly earnings from JPMorgan Chase & Co .

U.S. stock futures pointed to a lower open on Thursday after the bankruptcy of General Growth Properties offset better-than-expected quarterly earnings from JPMorgan Chase & Co .

World stocks eked out small gains on Thursday as mixed data from China and the United States reminded investors of the fragility of rebounding economies and markets.

Brewing giant SABMiller sold less beer than expected in the first three months of 2009 as economic conditions worsened and demand fell in most of its markets, sending its shares lower in early trade.

Asian stocks pulled back from a six-month high on Thursday, while the safe-haven yen jumped against major currencies after China posted its slowest quarterly growth ever in a reminder of the frailty of the global economy.

Asian stocks pulled back from a six-month high on Thursday, while the safe-haven yen gained after China posted its slowest ever quarterly growth in a signal of the frailty of the global economy.

General Motors Corp has told U.S. dealers it is accelerating its timetable for closing about 1,700 dealerships as it rushes to meet a June 1 deadline to restructure under U.S. government oversight, people with knowledge of the discussions said.

Rosetta Stone Inc shares priced at $18 in the company's initial public offering, above the estimate range, a source with direct knowledge of the deal said on Wednesday, making it the fourth IPO on a U.S. exchange in 2009 as equities markets struggle to stabilize.

British hedge fund manager Crispin Odey of Odey Asset Management said on Wednesday that he believes the current U.S. stock market rally could be lasting.

General Motors Corp has told U.S. dealers it is accelerating its timetable for closing about 1,700 dealerships as it rushes to meet a June 1 deadline to restructure under U.S. government oversight, people with knowledge of the discussions said.

General Motors Corp has told U.S. dealers it is accelerating its timetable for closing about 1,700 dealerships as it rushes to meet a June 1 deadline to restructure under U.S. government oversight, people with knowledge of the discussions said.

The Treasury Department on Wednesday declined to label China a currency manipulator, retreating from tough talk last year when a campaigning Barack Obama said Beijing had kept its currency's exchange rate unfairly low.

The Treasury Department on Wednesday declined to name China a currency manipulator, backing down from tough talk last year when Barack Obama, then campaigning for president, said Beijing was keeping its currency unfairly low.

Stocks rose on Wednesday amid numerous signs the recession could be abating and data from American Express signaled the ability of some consumers to pay their bills is stabilizing.

Oil prices fell marginally on Wednesday as government data showed U.S. crude stocks last week were at the highest level since September 1990.

The Dow and S&P 500 rose in a choppy session on Wednesday on hopes that the recession was moderating and Procter & Gamble's stock jumped after it raised its dividend.

The Dow and S&P 500 rose on Wednesday after better-than-expected regional factory data lifted hopes that the recession is moderating and prompted investors to buy some shares of manufacturers such as United Technologies and 3M Co .

AMR Corp , parent of American Airlines, on Wednesday reported a quarterly net loss on weaker travel demand, although -- excluding items -- the company beat expectations and its stock vaulted higher.