Monthly Archives: September 2011

Stocks close the worst quarter since 2008 on a down note

Posted on September 30, 2011 by

Friday was the second day in a row with U.S. economic news that on balance was slightly better than expected.

Posted in Economy, Stocks

S&P 500 manages to close higher in wide-swinging session

Posted on September 29, 2011 by

The penultimate day of the third quarter was in some respects a microcosm of the entire quarter, except that unlike the quarter today’s session saw the bulls prevail in the end.

Posted in Economy, Stocks

Stocks down in volatile trading session

Posted on September 28, 2011 by

Stock prices shed 1.5%-2% Wednesday, as we seem to be enmeshed in a stock market that can’t stand prosperity.

Posted in Europe, Stocks

Stocks have big gains early, then give half of them back

Posted on September 27, 2011 by

Up more than 300 points in midafternoon, the Dow Jones Industrial Average surrendered more than half of its gains in the final 90 minutes of trading on some dispute among the Eurozone nations about who will bear the pain of … Continue reading →

Posted in Bonds, Europe, Stocks

Stocks bounce higher to start the final week of the third quarter

Posted on September 26, 2011 by

Stock prices reversed course from last week’s declines, with the Dow rising 272 points or 2.5% Monday.

Posted in Bonds, Europe, Stocks

Stocks manage a small rally at the end of a brutal week

Posted on September 23, 2011 by

Stocks ended a wicked week with modest price increases Friday, while bonds and especially commodities sold off.

Posted in Bonds, Federal Reserve, Stocks

Stock prices decline sharply, with S&P 500 retesting 2011 lows

Posted on September 22, 2011 by

The United States may or may not be in or nearing a recession, but slow growth appears to be our lot for the foreseeable future.

Posted in Bonds, Leading Indicators, Stocks

Stock prices decline on change in Fed’s view of economic risks

Posted on September 21, 2011 by

As had been widely speculated on for the past several weeks, the Federal Reserve today unveiled a maturity extension program – similar to 1961′s “operation twist” – whereby the Fed will swap out of $400 billion in shorter-term Treasury securities … Continue reading →

Posted in Bonds, Federal Reserve, Stocks

Waiting for the results of Wednesday’s Federal Reserve meeting

Posted on September 20, 2011 by

At Tuesday’s high, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 150 points, but virtually all of the gain was wiped away in the final hour of trading as a result of – drum roll – renewed worries about Greece.

Posted in Federal Reserve

The Greek Debt Crisis Redux, Part II, The Sequel

Posted on September 19, 2011 by

The Euro crisis and in particular the debt woes of Greece roiled world markets for the umpteenth time today.

Posted in Europe