Stocks

Stocks got off to a strong start Tuesday despite a batch of dispiriting global economic data. As of 7:15 a.m. PDT, the Dow Jones industrial average jumped 119.83 points, or 0.8%, to 14,687. The gain gave hope to market bulls after last week's sharp drop in stock prices stoked talk that the market was poised for a more extended setback. The market was driven by solid earnings reports from companies such as Netflix, Travelers and United Technologies. Investors also were buoyed by encouraging news on home sales and prices and on U.S. manufacturing.

Netflix's stock shot up 24% in after-hours trading Monday after the Internet film and TV delivery service said it had added 3 million new members, bringing its total number of global subscribers to more than 36 million. The high-profile original series, "House of Cards," which debuted Feb. 1, generated a halo effect for Netflix, producing enormous media and social-media buzz. Some investors worried that fans of actor Kevin Spacey or of the show's executive producer, David Fincher, who directed "The Social Network," would take advantage of a free trial offer from Netflix to watch the political thriller -- and then cancel.

Investors hammered Apple's stock Thursday, sending shares down 2.81% in midday trading. This was the second day of pummeling for Apple's stock, as investors' nerves appeared increasingly rattled in the countdown to the company's earnings report scheduled for Tuesday.  Story: Apple takes investors on a wild ride The stock was down $11.33 to $391.47 on Thursday.  On Wednesday, investors drove the stock down...

The stock market is getting pounded for the second time in three days as shares of companies including Apple Inc. and Bank of America Corp. fell sharply. Apple led a big decline in the Nasdaq composite after investors were spooked by a warning from one of its component suppliers, raising fears of future weakness at the technology behemoth. Bank of America slid after its first-quarter profit fell short of analyst estimates. QUIZ: Test your Apple knowledge As of 9:45 a.m., the Dow Jones industrial average had sunk 179.43, or 1.2%, to 14,577.35.

The stock market endured its second broad decline in three days, as investors fretted about weak earnings in the U.S. and deepening economic stagnation in Europe. Companies ranging from Apple Inc. to Bank of America Corp. were battered as investors fled shares of economically sensitive issues. The Dow Jones industrial average skidded 138.19 points, or 0.9%, to 14,618.59. The Standard & Poor's 500 dropped 22.56 points, or 1.4%, to 1,552.01. The pain was worst in the technology-laden Nasdaq composite, which shriveled 59.96 points, 1.8%, to 3,204.67.

The star trotted toward a small pad in the middle of the 80-foot stage and stopped on his mark. "Look at the camera!" veteran animal trainer Steve Martin commanded. Like a true pro, Shadow, a gray wolf who has made appearances on HBO's "True Blood" series, turned his head and fixed his piercing yellow eyes at the camera operator. "Good boy," another trainer said, tossing him a morsel of meat. PHOTOS: Hollywood Backlot moments The shot was among several animal scenes filmed on the giant green-screen stage at Hollywood Center Studios last week, where a leopard, a lion, a monkey, an elephant and even two grizzly bears from Frasier Park performed simple tasks on the empty stage as a film crew captured their movements, snarls, roars and grunts.

Apple's stock sank 5.6% in midday trading on Wednesday following a report from a key supplier that indicated sales could be slowing. On Tuesday, Cirrus Logic, which supplies audio chips for iPhones and iPads, said sales of one of its chips was slipping . That led investors and some analysts to infer that Apple sales were also sliding, spooking shareholders one week before the company is scheduled to report earnings.   TIMELINE: Following Apple in 2012 Apple's stock fell 5.6% or $23.89 to $402.35 just after 12:30 p.m. EDT. Apple stock has not closed below $400 since late 2011.

NEW YORK -- Stocks posted sharp losses in Monday trading as commodities fell sharply following disappointing economic data out of China. Gold was also suffering a sharp sell-off. The Dow Jones industrial average, which had been in striking distance of 15,000, was off 156.85 points, or 1.1%, to 14,708.21 in late-day trading on Wall Street. The Dow had been down more than 200 points earlier. The broader Standard & Poor's 500 index was down 22.67 points, or 1.4%, to 1,566.18. The technology-focused Nasdaq was off 52.73 points, or 1.6%, to 3,242.22 Downbeat data out of China fueled worries over slowing growth.

The nation's fourth biggest oil company, Occidental Petroleum Corp., is primarily involved in oil and natural gas exploration and production. It is also a major manufacturer of oil-related chemicals. The Westwood company said its domestic production of oil and natural gas rose to the equivalent of 475,000 barrels of oil a day at the end of 2012, setting a record for the ninth straight quarter. But Occidental's stock performance hasn't been as good as that of others in the industry.

Taylor Morrison Home Corp. is riding high so far in its Wall Street debut as the newly public home builder benefits from an improved housing market and a renewed appetite for building. Shares of the Arizona firm rose $1.05 from its initial public offering price to $23.05 in afternoon trading Wednesday. The home builder had priced 28.6 million shares at $22 each. The company has said it sees the housing market on the upswing, citing record low mortgage rates, low inventory, increased household formation, job growth and consumer confidence.