Here are five of the most important reasons that are pressuring U.S. stocks on Thursday.
Renewed worries about Europe's debt crisis and a raft of weak U.S. economic data hit global markets on Thursday, driving down stocks and oil prices and pushing U.S. bond yields to record lows while pushing gold to a record high.
Stocks tumbled more than 4 percent on Thursday after data pointed to a stalled economy and as bank shares sank on a report regulators were scrutinizing the U.S. units of big European lenders.
Stock index futures pointed to a sharply lower open on Wall Street on Thursday, with futures for the S&P 500 down 2 percent, Dow Jones futures down 1.5 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures down 2.2 percent at 5:17 a.m. EDT.
Asian stocks fell Thursday on profit-taking by nervous investors, while the Swiss franc stayed firm after plans to curb the currency disappointed those looking for more drastic action.
The tentative deal to avoid a crushing debt default is at best a mild relief for the U.S. economy that nearly stalled in the first half of the year and has yet to show signs of any realistic pickup.
There's no way to sugarcoat it: the U.S. housing market remains a buyer's market. That said, are there ways home sellers can better-position their home for a sale amid such intense competition? Indeed there are, and here are five.
US stocks rallied in early trade on Wednesday as upbeat earnings from major technology companies’ boosted sentiment for corporate-profit trends.
Major U.S. stock indexes jumped more than 1 percent at the open on Wednesday as upbeat earnings from major technology companies’ boosted sentiment for corporate-profit trends.
Pending home sales in the US rebounded sharply in February, after showing a decline in the previous two months.
Sales of single-family houses in the US fell unexpectedly in February, showing continued weakness in the housing industry recovery.
Existing home sales in the US fell more than expected in February, indicating an uneven recovery in the housing industry. Sales of previously owned homes dropped 9.6 percent to 4.88 million in February compared with an upwardly revised figure of 5.40 million in January, the National Association of Realtors said on Monday.
US stocks were mixed in early trade on Wednesday after plunging in the previous session amid political unrest in the Middle East.
A housing trade association is examining the possibility that the data it releases underestimated the collapse of the housing industry, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.
Investors are likely to focus on major economic data to be released during the week to gauge the strength of recovery in the world’s largest economy. The main focus will be housing and economic activity, while rising Middle East tensions are expected to weigh on markets.
Futures on major U.S. stock indices point to a modestly higher opening on Thursday ahead of economic data including durable goods orders and pending home sales as well as slew of earnings reports.
Futures on major U.S. indices pared earlier losses and point to modestly lower opening on Thursday after the Department of Labor reported that weekly jobless claims fell sharply last week.
Futures on major U.S. indices point to a lower opening on Thursday ahead of economic data, including weekly jobless claims and existing home sales.
Summary of Fed Beige Book, January 12, 2011
Pending home sales climbed again in November, with the broad trend over the past five months indicating a gradual recovery into 2011, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR).
Home prices in 20 metropolitan cities in the US continued to fall in October with prices in six cities reaching new lows.
Existing home sales in the U.S. picked up again in November, after a surprising drop during October, according to a report by the National Association of Realtors.
