S&P

China markets were still shaken on Wednesday, lagging behind others due to a lower economic outlook after the central bank raised the reserve requirement for banks.

Stocks fell on Tuesday on a subpar start to earnings season following Alcoa Inc's worse-than-expected results and Chevron Corp's warning that its income would be sharply lower.

The stock market edged up slightly on Monday in anticipation of earnings announcements, following disappointing employment data last Friday and encouraging China trade data from today's Asian trading session.

U.S. stocks closed up on Friday as December's unemployment report, despite showing job losses, was seen supportive of a slow recovery.

A late holiday shopping surge helped U.S. retailers beat analysts' sales estimates for December, but industry experts see the momentum fading early in 2010 as consumers return to saving their money.

Stocks were little changed on Thursday after the government said jobless claims rose slightly, with investors in a holding pattern ahead of key monthly non-farm payroll data on Friday.

U.S. retailers posted better-than-expected December sales, and many raised profit forecasts as they benefited from a late holiday shopping surge and discounts that were more modest than a year ago.

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.

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.

Global factory business activity grew at its fastest pace in nearly four years in December as new orders growth accelerated at a rate not seen in more that five and a half years, a survey showed on Monday.

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.

U.S. stocks ended a smidgen higher in very light trading on Wednesday as a stronger-than-expected report on Midwest U.S. business activity was offset by investors taking profits in some of the year's better performers.

The Australian Dollar held above the 88 cents mark yesterday as news out of China indicated that economic forecasts would keep pace with expectations in 2010 and that it would maintain stimulus polices currently in place.

Stocks treaded water on Tuesday in a low-volume session after data showed a rise in consumer confidence, but a housing report pointed to more bumps in the road.

U.S. stocks dipped on Monday as airline shares faltered amid security worries, while losses were limited by retail shopping data indicating improved consumer spending.

Stocks dipped on Monday as airline shares faltered amid security worries, while losses were limited by retail shopping data indicating improved consumer spending.