A rebounding dollar and persisting worries about the economy kept investors on a wait-and-watch mode and stocks fell broadly as weakness in energy shares, precipitated by reports of flush U.S. reserves, weighed on sentiments.  In a broad based decline, major stock indexes fell about 1% from their 13-month highs. 

The strength in US dollar, based upon its safe-haven appeal, undermined investors' appetites for riskier, high-yielding assets such as equities as upside guidance from DJIA components Wal-Mart and Hewlett-Packard failed to stem the retreat.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 94 points, or 0.9%, to close at 10,197.47.  The S&P 500 retreated 11 points, or 1%, to close at 1,087.24, after climbing to an intraday high of 1,101.97.  The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index retreated 18 points, or 0.8%, to settle at 2,149.02.  On the New York Stock Exchange, declining issues outpaced those that advanced in price by a four-to-one margin

U.S. stocks ended the day mixed as concerns grew that a six-month old rally has gone ahead of any economic recovery.  A drop in crude prices on global demand concerns sent energy shares lower.  Also, investors appeared jittery ahead of the two-day policy meet and Friday's key post of August durable goods, and refrained from adding to their holdings.  Defensive areas like healthcare rose.  Technology shares also found some favor with investors after Dell announced plans to acquire Perot Systems in a $3.9 billion deal.

This morning’s stock futures indicate Wall Street is headed for a higher opening, helped by a rally in global stocks.  Ahead of the market’s open, Dow Jones industrial average futures rose 48, or 0.5%, to 9,766.  Standard & Poor's 500 index futures were up 6.20, or 0.6%, to 1,066.60, while Nasdaq 100 index futures rose 10.75, or 0.6%, to 1,738.50.  Ahead of the FOMC

U.S. stocks rose for a fifth day on Thursday as a larger than expected drop in U.S. jobless claims and an upbeat forecast from consumer goods maker Procter & Gamble added to enthusiasm that the economy is on track for a rebound.  Energy shares advanced, helped by rising forecasts for oil demand.  Nevertheless, given September’s weak track record, market participants have been bracing for a pullback.

On Thursday, the Dow Jones industrial average rose 80.26 points, or 0.8%, to 9,627.48, its highest close since October 6.  The broader S&P 500 index advanced 10.77 points, or 1%, to 1,044.14, its first five-day climb since November.  The Nasdaq composite index rose 23.63 points, or 1.2%, to 2,084.02.  With traders eschewing safe havens, yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note fell to 3.35%. The yield on the 30-year notes declined to 4.20%.

As the holiday-shortened week comes to an end today, investors

U.S. stocks closed lower Monday after a sharp decline in China’s main stock index reignited worries that the six-month old rally defies logic and is built mostly on hype.  Yesterday’s 6.7% plunge in Shanghai Composite Index on concerns over tightening credit in that country sent stocks in Asia sharply lower and led to further selling in Europe.  Treasuries rose as investors shunned equities and turned towards safer bets.  Oil prices declined below $70 per barrel for the first time in almost a week on concerns about China’s growth prospects. 

The 30-stock Dow Jones industrial average shed 47.92 points, or 0.50%, to close at 9,496.28.  The broad Standard & Poor's 500-stock index was down 8.31 points, or 0.81%, at 1,020.62.  The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index lost 19.71 points, or 0.97%, to 2,009.06.  Nevertheless, the Dow managed to end August up 3.5% for its fifth monthly gain in six months while

U.S. stocks fell on Monday as concerns about the global economy’s health weighed on Wall Street, following a hefty sell-off in Chinese equities.

Energy shares led the decline after the sharp drop in China’s main stock index increased worries about a potential rebound in global energy demand and oil slipped below $70 a barrel.

Shares of Chevron Corp tumbled 1.2 percent to $69.81 and Exxon Mobil dropped 0.8 percent to $69.56. The S&P Energy index <.GSPE> was down 1.8 percent.

The Shanghai Composite index <.SSEC> fell nearly 7 percent to a three-month low on fears that China’s government is trying to moderate economic growth and choke off some speculation in its stock market by tightening bank lending.

“China’s decline is just scaring people,” said Tim Ghriskey, chief investment officer at Solaris Asset Management in Bedford Hills, New York.

“The world is partially relying on China’s economic growth to bring us out of this recession, and given the

World stocks slid on Wednesday after a mixed report on U.S. durable goods orders reignited doubts about economic recovery while oil prices fell on news of rising U.S. crude stockpiles.

The U.S. dollar gained, retracing the week’s losses, as the durables goods report for July eroded risk appetite and prompted investors to seek shelter in the safe-haven greenback.

Orders for long-lasting manufactured goods registered the biggest advance since July 2007, but excluding transportation goods, orders for durables were slightly below expectations.

Slippage among global stocks that climbed to 10-month highs this week boosted money flows into less risky assets, such as European government bonds, which also gained from some modest month-end buying, traders said.

Economic data in Europe showed further signs of recovery, as did a report showing U.S. new home sales jumped in July to their fastest pace in 10 months.

But a key measure of U.S. business demand — nondefense capital goods, excluding

Global stocks slid anew on Tuesday as an uptick in German manufacturing orders failed to offset persistent concerns about economic prospects, worries that pushed crude oil down prices to below $63 a barrel.

Caution was the order of the day, with the dollar rising against the euro in a seesaw session in which risk tolerance rose and then fell as investors weighed the outlook for growth and corporate earnings.

Data showed orders in Germany, Europe’s largest economy, rose at the strongest monthly pace in nearly two years in May. But economists said the yearly comparison would remain weak for some time.

Euro zone government bond prices fell and the Bund future retreated from seven-week peaks as heavy European supply of almost 14 billion euro cut safety bids for bonds.

Another decline on Wall Street rekindled a safety bid for U.S. government debt, offsetting worries about demand for this week’s sale of $73 billion in

U.S. stocks fell today, Monday, as investors worried about the potential strength and timing of an economic recovery, sending oil prices and energy shares lower.

Markets briefly cut losses after data showed the service sector contracted at a slower pace in June, blunting some pessimism over the economy after a last week’s much worse-than-expected jobs report.

“Overall the data looks like a positive, although it may not be enough in the near term to overcome last week’s disappointing jobs report,” said Michael Sheldon, chief market strategist at RDM Financial in Westport, Connecticut.

Oil touched a five-week low and fell to around $64 a barrel, sending Exxon Mobil Corp down 2.1 percent at $67.05, and Chevron Corp fell 2.1 percent to $63.09. The two companies were the biggest weights on the Dow Jones industrial average.

Although the weaker oil prices bode well for recession-weary consumers, strong commodity prices have been viewed as a signal the global economy

Asian markets were mixed Thursday as looming bankruptcy of General Motors and rising government bond yields threatened to hurt prospects of a global economic recovery.  At day's end Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average edged up 0.13% to 9,451.39 and South Korea's Kospi advanced 2.2% to close at 1,392.17.

Stock futures suggest a higher opening on the Wall Street.  Dow Jones industrial average futures rose 0.4% to 8,327. Standard & Poor's 500 index futures rose 0.3% to 895.30 and Nasdaq 100 index futures were up 0.4% to 1,409.00.

On Wednesday, U.S. stocks sank amid growing worries over the fate of General Motors (NYSE:GM) and rising yields on longer-term US government debt.  An encouraging housing report did little to contain the selloff as yields on the benchmark 10-year jumped to a 6-month high. Energy shares declined but financials were the leading laggards.  Shaking investor confidence yesterday were yields on 10-year

FTSEurofirst 300 falls 1.5 percent… Banks under pressure on poor economic outlook… Miners, oils slip…

European shares hit a one-week trough on Thursday, led lower by banks, as poor corporate results and fresh signs of deteriorating global economic outlook overshadowed a compromise deal on a massive U.S. stimulus plan.

By 0949 GMT, the FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares was down 1.5 percent to 791.78 points after falling as low as 787.14. The index is down 4.8 percent this year after plunging 45 percent in 2008.

Banks were among the top fallers on the index, with Commerzbank falling 5.4 percent, Credit Agricole down 3.5 percent and Societe Generale declining 3.4 percent.

Energy shares were also under pressure as crude prices eased to trade below $36 a barrel — down 75 percent from a record high near $150 just seven months ago. BP