Even if Sprint gets ditched on a consolidation dance, it may end 2012 as the telecom sector prom queen.
Stocks rise as ADP's estimate of private-sector hiring came in better than expected.
US private-sector payrolls expand by 162,000. Service sector picks up in September. But in China and Europe, data is weak. Also, uncertainty about the timing of Spain's bailout is causing jitters. Best Buy may be up for an $11 billion buyout.
Stocks slide as Spain's Prime Minister says a bailout request is not imminent.
But the telecom's fortunes will rise or fall depending on how it handles Apple's new iPhone 5, according to one industry bear.
MetroPCS is upgraded to 'outperform,' and J.C. Penney is initiated at 2 firms.
A merging of two incompatible networks would only lead to overhead expenses for the larger carriers.
The market is down for the sixth consecutive session, its longest losing stretch of the year.
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