Housing starts hit a 4-year high, cheering investors. But the Dow and Nasdaq muster only small gains because of weakness in IBM and Intel. Apollo shares sag on earnings warning. Nike ends ties with Lance Armstrong. Oil, gold move up.
The Fed chairman is worried about Europe and the 'fiscal cliff' but avoids saying how the central bank may boost the economy. Mattel and Coca-Cola lead a rebound from an early pullback. Intel shares rise on 2nd-quarter results. Crude oil rises.
Big Blue and Intel represent most of the Dow's decline. Qualcomm and American Express results don't move investors. Berkshire Hathaway dips after Warren Buffett says he has cancer. Crude oil and gold move lower.
IBM earnings are a touch less than expected. Intel's report prompts profit-taking. The major averages enjoy their best day in a month. Apple moves above $600. The IMF sees fragile growth in 2012. Warren Buffett has prostate cancer.
Concern that Spain could default on its debt may negate what should be a decent week for earnings. Companies reporting include Coca-Cola, Citigroup, IBM, Intel, Kimberly-Clark, Microsoft and GE. Also due is the March report on housing starts.
IBM, Intel and Microsoft power the blue chips and the S&P 500 Index higher. Google's earnings miss holds the Nasdaq back. Existing-home sales rose in December. Crude oil drops below $100; gold rallies.
The search giant misses estimates, but investors like earnings from IBM, Intel and Microsoft. The Dow gains 45. Bank of America's earnings cheer Wall Street. Jobless claims fall nearly to a 4-year low. F5 Networks earnings send shares soaring.
Google, IBM, Intel and Microsoft will post after the close. All face challenges in 2012.
VIDEO ON MSN MONEY
DATA PROVIDERS
Copyright © 2013 Microsoft. All rights reserved.
Quotes are real-time for NASDAQ, NYSE and AMEX. See delay times for other exchanges.
Fundamental company data and historical chart data provided by Thomson Reuters (click for restrictions). Real-time quotes provided by BATS Exchange. Real-time index quotes and delayed quotes supplied by Interactive Data Real-Time Services. Fund summary, fund performance and dividend data provided by Morningstar Inc. Analyst recommendations provided by Zacks Investment Research. StockScouter data provided by Verus Analytics. IPO data provided by Hoover's Inc. Index membership data provided by SIX Financial Information.
Japanese stock price data provided by Nomura Research Institute Ltd.; quotes delayed 20 minutes. Canadian fund data provided by CANNEX Financial Exchanges Ltd.
TOP STOCKS
All hail the bull market, which ended the week with a big rally. But it also is starting to look a little like 1987, which suffered an epic blow-out.
MARKET DISPATCHES
The Market Dispatches column has been discontinued. Here's where to find the latest stock and business news on MSN Money, and the latest from market writer Charley Blaine.
FRUGAL COOL
Starting Monday, this site is joining forces with MSN Money Smart Spending. Here's why.
MONEY & POLITICS
Breaking up big banks is an untested solution to the too big to fail problem that attempts to isolate and dismantle large, troubled institutions while protecting the rest of the economy.
SMART SPENDING
Money lessons are where you find them. Use these tips to live long and prosper.
SMART TAXES
The IRS is struggling to combat identify thieves who file fraudulent tax returns in the names of older residents who don't need to file.
