S&P

Wall Street may have momentum on its side this week as the S&P 500 tries to puncture the 1,000 level, but the rally's staying power will depend on whether U.S. data and corporate earnings provide more signs of economic stabilization.

Wall Street may have momentum on its side next week as the S&P 500 tries to puncture the 1,000 level, but the rally's staying power will depend on whether U.S. data and corporate earnings provide more signs of economic stabilization.

The Dow and the S&P ended up slightly on Friday, with data showing the economy shrank less than expected in the second quarter, lifting investor optimism. The Nasdaq ended down slightly.

The Dow and the S&P slipped on Tuesday, recovering from steeper declines earlier in the day, as investors shrugged off weak consumer confidence data and focused on positive earnings reports.

Stocks seesawed on Wednesday as disappointing quarterly results from top banks sparked caution over the health of financials, though sentiment rose after a robust earnings report from Apple Inc .

U.S. stocks ended mixed on Friday, with the Dow and Nasdaq up and the S&P 500 down. Upbeat earnings results from IBM offset disappointing numbers from General Electric Co .

U.S. stocks headed for a sharply higher open on Wednesday as Intel Corp's solid quarterly results and outlook reinforced hopes for an economic recovery and a rebound in technology spending.

Banks will hog the spotlight in the first big week for this quarter's earnings period as investors attempt to discern whether the surprising improvement in earnings in the first quarter continued through the second quarter of the year.

Banks led U.S. stocks sharply higher in a volatile session on Monday, after positive comments on financials from normally bearish analyst Meredith Whitney sparked hopes for the sector ahead of earnings.

Stocks rose on Monday in a choppy session after influential bank analyst Meredith Whitney upgraded Goldman Sachs Group and sparked hopes corporate quarterly results in the financial sector may be surprisingly strong.

U.S. stocks fell on Wednesday on lingering concerns over an economic recovery and anxiety about the health of corporate profits ahead of the second-quarter earnings season.

Markets got off to a hesitant start Monday as investor doubts on the staying power of a global recovery kept Asian stocks soggy and currencies subdued ahead of a much-expanded Group of Eight meeting this week.

It is a little too early to celebrate new life in the housing market, but Americans should soon have something to party about if the spring housing season is any gauge.

Stocks fell sharply on Thursday after payrolls data showed more Americans than expected lost their jobs in June, dimming hopes of a quick economic recovery.

U.S. stocks fell on Tuesday after U.S. consumer confidence data showed a surprise drop, raising doubts about the speed of an economic recovery, and falling oil prices sank energy shares.

Prices of U.S. single-family homes fell in April from March but the pace of the decline moderated, suggesting stability is emerging in some regions, according to Standard & Poor's/Case Shiller home price indexes released on Tuesday.

Stock futures pointed to a higher start on Wall Street on Tuesday, with futures for the S&P up 0.4 percent, Dow Jones futures up 0.2 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.1 percent at 5 a.m. EDT.

Stocks slid on Monday as investors questioned the strength of an economic recovery, while energy shares were dragged down by lower oil prices.

Technology shares buoyed the Nasdaq on Wednesday after positive broker comments on Qualcomm, but financial shares' losses held back the Dow and the S&P 500.

(Corrects unofficial close to remove 22 and read several in reference to S&P's debt downgrades of banks)

U.S. stocks slipped on Tuesday as mixed economic data and Best Buy's disappointing sales spurred worries about an anemic recovery.