S&P

The American market for single-family homes fell to new lows in February, but prices declined at a slower rate compared to the previous month, a private report showed Tuesday, as the housing market continues to struggle.

Maoist rebels have offered to release a captured senior official being held in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh in exchange for the freedom of several imprisoned guerrillas and the withdrawal of security forces from the region.

Stocks extended gains on Wednesday, pushing the Dow average up more than 1 percent as the market rebounded after five days of heavy losses on the S&P 500 brought the benchmark index down more than 4 percent.

Futures on major US stock indices point to a higher opening Tuesday as investors closely watch the start of US corporate earnings.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said Wednesday it was considering slashing the credit rating of Best Buy Co. Inc. to junk status, or below investment grade.

Chrysler Group LLC reported its March 2012 U.S. sales increased 34 percent, the best monthly sales in four years for the company.

Stock index futures fell on Tuesday after the S&P 500 climbed to a 4-year high in the previous session as investors awaited factory orders data and minutes of the latest Federal Reserve meeting.

Friday, the Dow gained 66.22 points, or 0.50 percent, to 13,212.04 at the close. The S&P 500 Index gained 5.19 points, or 0.37 percent, to 1,408.47, while the Nasdaq Composite dipped 3.79 points, or 0.12 percent, to 3,091.57. The uptick capped U.S. stocks' strongest quarter in more than two years.

Futures on major US stock indices point to a higher opening Friday ahead of a wave of economic data including core PCE price index and Chicago PMI.

U.S. home prices fell in January to new lows, but prices declined at a slower rate compared to the previous month's decline, according to the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices released Tuesday.

Futures on major US stock indices point to a flat opening on Tuesday ahead of reports on home prices and consumer confidence.

Stocks mostly inched higher on Friday as rising energy shares offset early weakness, though the S&P 500 remained on track to break a five-week streak of gains.

Asia shares continued to fall amid lingering worries about China growth. In Japan, shares declined for the first time in six sessions.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index continued to rise to touch the highest since May 2008 following the announcement from Apple that it has decided to pay a dividend as well as launch a stock buy backs program.

The positive reports on the U.S. economy are seen as the major cause of the stocks rallying.

Stocks surged Thursday, with the S&P 500 topping the 1,400 mark for the first time in nearly four years, propelled by firm readings on the jobs market and manufacturing activities.

Fiat S.p.A. subsidiary Maserati S.p.A. plans to increase sales by at least 900 percent by 2015, CEO Harald Wester reportedly said on the sidelines of the Geneva Motor Show 2012 where it debuted its new Maserati GranTurismo Sport last week, Auto News reported Sunday.

Investors await the Conference Board's employment trend index for February at 10 a.m. EDT, followed by the U.S. Treasury Department's budget-deficit figures for February.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq notched their eighth week of gains in the last nine, but momentum ran out on Friday as shares ended the day lower after a thinly traded session.

Futures on the S&P 500 edged lower in light volume Friday but were still on track to close their ninth straight week of gains, the longest such run since January 2004. Investors will focus on oil prices as U.S. crude hovers near $107 a barrel a day after hitting a 10-month high above $110 on supply concerns in the Middle East.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average crossed 13,000 at Tuesday's market close, while the S&P 500 rose above 1,370, but a bullish psychological impact could actually drag down the market in days to come.