Nasdaq Composite Index

The Nasdaq Stock Market on Friday released revised closing numbers for June 29 for many of its indexes. The changes were made because computer problems last week delayed closing prices on dozens of stocks. The Nasdaq composite index for June 29 has been revised to 2,161.24, up from the 2,160.54 previously recorded.

Major U.S. stock indexes on Friday broke out of the trading range where they've been stuck for two months, as a surprisingly strong retail sales report and gangbuster earnings from Google Inc. helped fuel a broad rally. The Dow Jones industrial average and the Nasdaq composite index turned positive for 2011, with both indexes now up 0.6% year to date. The Dow gained 166.36 points, or 1.4%, to 11,644.49, its highest close since Aug. 3, when the market was in the midst of a terrifying plunge driven by Europe's deepening debt crisis and fear of another global recession.

The Dow's gain since Dec. 31, 1989, has been far outpaced by the tech-stock-heavy Nasdaq composite index. Still, broader-market indexes such as the NYSE composite and the small-stock Russell 2,000 are far behind the Dow. *--* Index Dec. 31, 1989 Monday % Change Nasdaq composite 454.82 2,492.84 +448% S&P 500 353.40 1,310.17 +271 Dow industrials 2,753.20 10,006.78 +263 Wilshire 5,000 3,419.88 11,893.39 +248 NYSE composite 195.04 613.16 +214 Russell 2,000 168.31 399.

NEW YORK - U.S. stocks ended mostly higher in a volatile session Thursday as better-than-expected economic data and German approval of a stronger euro-zone crisis fund soothed two of the worst fears hanging over the market. Based on the latest available data, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 143.08 points, or 1.30%, to end unofficially at 11,153.98. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index was up 9.34 points, or 0.81%, at 1,160.40. But the Nasdaq Composite Index was down 10.82 points, or 0.43%, to close unofficially at 2,480.76.

NEW YORK - U.S. stocks ended mostly higher in a volatile session Thursday as better-than-expected economic data and German approval of a stronger euro-zone crisis fund soothed two of the worst fears hanging over the market. Based on the latest available data, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 143.08 points, or 1.30%, to end unofficially at 11,153.98. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index was up 9.34 points, or 0.81%, at 1,160.40. But the Nasdaq Composite Index was down 10.82 points, or 0.43%, to close unofficially at 2,480.76.

The Nasdaq composite index hasn't been able to put together a three-day rally since late August. But history says that jinx is about to be broken. Today is the last trading day of the year, and in Nasdaq's entire history--since 1971--the index has never failed to rally in the final session of the year, says the Stock Trader's Almanac, a market fact book published by the Hirsch Organization in Old Tappan, N.J.

Stocks rebounded moderately Wednesday as shares of energy, raw-material and consumer-staple companies advanced but the financial sector extended its decline. Bank and brokerage stocks finished lower after Lehman Bros. said it planned to sell a majority stake in its investment management business and spin off its troubled mortgage assets. An index of financial stocks in the Standard & Poor's 500 stock index fell 0.7%. On Tuesday, the gauge tumbled 6.6% as worries about Lehman triggered a broad sell-off.

Stocks pushed higher for a third straight session after a surprisingly strong report on home sales bolstered the view that the economy is picking up speed. The Dow Jones industrial average rose nearly 51 points, bringing its three-day gain to 156 points. The Standard & Poor's 500 index closed at a fresh 14-month high, while the Nasdaq composite index ended at its highest level in 15 months. Stocks got off to a positive start after the National Assn. of Realtors said home resales jumped 7.4% in November to their highest level in nearly three years.

Stocks advanced in morning trading today, resuming a recent rally that took the Dow Jones industrials to a new high for the year earlier this week. Overseas markets were also mostly higher. Economic data has been better than expected this week in the U.S., the world's largest economy and a key trading partner. Major U.S. stock market indexes had risen in the first three days of the week on signs the economy is recovering, but gave some ground on Thursday. No major economic reports are on Friday's economic calendar, however.

NEW YORK -- Stocks are rising in early trading, breaking a four-day losing streak after the latest reading on the jobs market and mixed retail sales reports. The gains in stocks come as the Labor Department said the number of people filing for unemployment claims fell last week by 4,000 to 570,000. However, the market had been expecting a bigger drop to 560,000. The market is also sifting through a number of sales reports from retailers. Overall, sales are still weak, but many companies, including Target Corp.

The stock market posted its biggest drop in a month on concerns that tighter lending in China could endanger an economic recovery. Disappointing earnings from IBM and Morgan Stanley added to investors' angst. At the same time, sudden strength in the dollar pushed commodity prices sharply lower Wednesday, hurting stocks of energy companies and materials producers. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 122 points from a 15-month high but ended well off its lows for the day. Demand for havens like government debt rose, pushing yields lower.

Stocks pushed higher for a third straight session after a surprisingly strong report on home sales bolstered the view that the economy is picking up speed. The Dow Jones industrial average rose nearly 51 points, bringing its three-day gain to 156 points. The Standard & Poor's 500 index closed at a fresh 14-month high, while the Nasdaq composite index ended at its highest level in 15 months. Stocks got off to a positive start after the National Assn. of Realtors said home resales jumped 7.4% in November to their highest level in nearly three years.

Major stock indicators retreated modestly from 13-month highs Wednesday on disappointing forecasts from technology firms and an unexpected drop in new-home construction. The Dow Jones industrial average slipped 11 points after rising in nine of the preceding 10 sessions. Tech stocks slumped, weighing on the Nasdaq composite index, after forecasts late Tuesday from software makers Autodesk and Salesforce.com fell short of analysts' expectations. Also late Tuesday, shares of Research in Motion were downgraded by a Bank of Montreal analyst, who said the BlackBerry maker faced increased competition from cheaper devices.

NEW YORK -- Stocks are snapping back from Friday's big losses as stronger-than-expected reports on manufacturing and housing ease investors' concerns about how durable the economic recovery will be. Major indexes rose more than 0.5 percent in midday trading Monday, including the Dow Jones industrials, which jumped about 80 points after tumbling 250 points on Friday. Investors also scooped up commodities like oil and gold as they moved out of safe-haven assets like the dollar and Treasurys.

NEW YORK -- Stocks are falling in early trading, erasing some of the big gains from the day before on news that the economy grew more than expected last quarter. Friday's economic news is doing little to stir buying. A Labor Department report shows personal spending dipped 0.5 percent in September, while personal income was flat. The strength of consumers is considered vital to a recovery because their spending accounts for more than two-thirds of all U.S. economic activity.

NEW YORK -- Stocks are surging in the early moments of trading after the government said the economy grew at a stronger than expected pace during the third quarter. Investors have spent the past couple of months hunting for clues of just how much the economy has recovered. Thursday's gross domestic product reading gives them the surest sign yet that the economy is on the upswing. The Commerce Department says the economy grew at an annual pace of 3.5 percent in the third quarter, faster than the 3.3 percent increase predicted by economists.

Hoping for a fourth-quarter stock market surge to follow the current malaise? Your wish will be granted, predicts Prudential Securities technical-markets analyst Ralph Acampora. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index will shake off its September blues and rally more than 20% in coming months, according to Acampora, who has been one of Wall Street's most prominent bulls in recent years.

Debbie and Ross Goldberg have long invested in the shares of small companies for one simple reason: They can buy some of those stocks cheap. With just a few thousand dollars, the Goldbergs can buy several hundred--sometimes even a few thousand--shares of a little company. If the company does well, the Woodland Hills couple make a killing. Ralph Feldfeber, on the other hand, is a new entrant into the small-company stock market.

NEW YORK -- Stocks rose moderately in early trading Monday as investors brace for the government's first reading on the economy in the third quarter later in the week and fresh earnings reports and debt auctions. Overseas markets rose, bolstered by new signs economies in Asia are well on their way to recovery. South Korea reported its economy grew at its fastest pace in seven years. David Hefty, CEO at Cornerstone Wealth Management, said the market's recent gains -- major indexes hit their highs for the year last week -- will give investors pause.

Stocks are higher in the opening moments of trading as investors rallied on Microsoft's latest earnings report. The software giant says its latest quarterly profit slid 18 percent, but results still topped analysts' expectations. Its shares are up nearly 10 percent. Investors are being heartened by stronger profits and upbeat outlooks from companies seen as bellwethers of consumer demand in an economy emerging from recession. A report on existing home sales is expected to provide further direction for the market.