Stocks ended the session almost flat without much excitment. Techs saw small gains as Cisco Systems hit a 21-mth high after JPMorgan recommended the stock to investors, and a day before the company is due to announce new technology to speed up internet connections.

DJIA -13.68pts (0.13%) at 10552.52

S&P -0.20pts (0.02%) at 1138.50

Nasdaq +5.86pts (0.25%) at 2332.21

Stocks rallied after US employment data came out better than expected. US non-farm payrolls fell by 36,000, less than the expected fall of 68,000. Unemployment rate at 9.7% was also better than expectations of 9.8%.

DJIA +122.06pts (1.17%) at 10566.20

S&P +15.73pts (1.40%) at 1138.70

Nasdaq +34.04pts (1.48%) at 2326.35

Stocks advanced, with the S&P on its 5th day of gains after economic data showed a jump in retail sales and a drop in jobless claims. Analyst upgrades also lifted stocks, with Walt Disney +2.9% and Coca-Cola Co up more than 1%.

DJIA +47.38pts (0.46%) at 10444.14

S&P +4.18pts (0.37%) at 1122.97

Nasdaq +11.63pts (0.51%) at 2292.31

Stocks gave up gains and ended flat as investors sold off banking and healthcare shares on fears that White House’s overhaul on these sectors will hurt profit. President Obama said that it is time to pass his sweeping healthcare overhaul in Congress after a year of debate. And adding to worries, a draft of the latest proposal to regulate the financial industry will include rules to ban proprietary trading.

DJIA -9.22pts (0.09%) at 10396.76

S&P +0.48pts (0.04%) at 1118.79

Nasdaq -0.11pts (0.00%) at 2280.68

Stocks ended flat, giving up early gains after showing signs of fatigue. Despite positive M&A news in some sectors, investors took profits on recent gains as sentiments turned slightly cautious ahead of payrolls data this friday.

DJIA +2.19pts (0.02%) at 10405.98

S&P +2.60pts (0.23%) at 1118.31

Nasdaq +7.22pts (0.32%) at 2280.79

Stocks rose on positive sentiments after a record deal by AIG to sell its major Asian unit. AIG shares jumped 4.4% after British Prudential Plc agreed to buy its AIA Group arm for $35.5billion.

DJIA +78.53pts (0.76%) at 10403.79

S&P +11.22pts (1.02%) at 1115.71

Nasdaq +35.31pts (1.58%) at 2273.57

Stocks ended flat in thin volume due to a snowstorm in New York. Some buying interest after better than expected GDP data helped maintained small gains and the indices ended Feb with the best gains since Nov 2009.

DJIA +4.23pts (0.04%) at 10325.26

S&P +1.55pts (0.14%) at 1104.49

Nasdaq +4.04pts (0.18%) at 2238.26

Stocks ended lower on renewed concerns over Greece’s debt problems after rating agencies said they might downgrade Greece’s sovereign debt rating. Adding to woes, jobless claims rose unexpectedly and durable orders data were weaker. However, stocks managed to pull back from their lows on late bargain hunting.

DJIA -53.13pts (0.51%) at 10321.03

S&P -2.30pts (0.21%) at 1102.94

Nasdaq -1.68pts (0.08%) at 2234.22

Stocks gained after Fed Chairman Bernanke, in his testimony to Congress, assured lawmakers that interest rates will remain low. Markets cheered at the news and bought up banks shares, with BoA rising 2.45%.

DJIA +91.75pts (0.89%) at 10374.16

S&P +10.64pts (0.97%) at 1105.24

Nasdaq +22.46pts (1.01%) at 2235.90

Stocks fell more than 1% after consumer confidence data slumped to a 10-mth low and once again renewed fears about the pace of the economic recovery.

DJIA -100.97pts (0.97%) at 10282.41

S&P -13.41pts (1.21%) at 1094.60

Nasdaq -28.59pts (1.28%) at 2213.44

Stocks ended flat as market awaits Bernanke’s testimony to the Congress this Wednesday and Thursday. Trading volume were at this year’s lowest as investors stay out, hoping that the Chairman will give clearer directions about interest rates during the testimony.

DJIA -18.97pts (0.18%) at 10383.38

S&P -1.16pts (0.10%) at 1108.01

Nasdaq -1.84pts (0.08%) at 2242.03

Stocks made small gains on friday as investors took the Fed’s rate hike as a positive sign that the economy is on the mend. However, gains were capped as the overall market remained cautious.

DJIA +9.45pts (0.09%) at 10402.35

S&P +2.42pts (0.22%) at 1109.17

Nasdaq +2.16pts (0.10%) at 2243.87

After the bell, the Fed put a damper on the 3-day rally by a surprise hike in its discount rate. The Fed, in its first interest rate move since Dec 2008, raised the emergency lending rate it charges banks from 0.5% to 0.75%.

Despite assurance from the Fed that the move will not raise borrowing costs for consumers and companies, this is likely set fears in investors that the current low interest rate environment is unlikely to last for long.

Stocks rose for a 3rd day as strong economic data continued to bolster hopes of economic recovery. Investors bought into the stock markets on the back of strong manufacturing data, brushing aside a spike in weekly jobless claims.

DJIA +83.66pts (0.81%) at 10392.90

S&P +7.24pts (0.66%) at 1106.75

Nasdaq +15.42pts (0.69%) at 2241.71

Better than expected earnings from Deere & Co, the world’s largest farm equipment maker sent stocks higher on optimism that the economic recovery will bolster corporate earnings.

DJIA +40.43pts (0.39%) at 10309.24

S&P +4.64pts (0.42%) at 1099.51

Nasdaq +12.10pts (0.55%) at 2226.29

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Wishing all a happy and prosperous Tiger year!

Stocks rallied the most in 3 months after strong earnings from drugmaker Merck & Co boosted optimism, with the share gaining 2%. Commodities related stocks also gained on the back of a weaker USD.

DJIA +169.67pts (1.68%) at 10268.81

S&P +19.36pts (1.80%) at 1094.87

Nasdaq +30.66pts (1.40%) at 2214.19

Stocks rose after European Union leaders pledged to support debt-laden Greece and helped eased fears of a wider Euro-zone crisis.

DJIA +105.81pts (1.05%) at 10144.19

S&P +10.34pts (0.97%) at 1078.47

Nasdaq +29.54pts (1.38%) at 2177.41

Stocks ended lower on Bernanke’s detailed plan of how the Fed would dismantle the emergency supports put in place to bolster the economy. Concerns on Greece eased after France & Germany were set to present a plan to prevent Greece from going bankrupt. Trading volume was light due to the East Coast snowstorm.

DJIA -20.26pts (0.20%) at 10038.38

S&P -2.39pts (0.22%) at 1068.13

Nasdaq -3.00pts (0.14%) at 2147.87

Stocks rebounded on relief buying after reports of a senior German ruling coalition source saying that euro zone governments have decided in principle to help Greece. The Dow Jones rose the most in percentage in 3 mths, boosted by buying interest in commodity stocks on the back of a weaker USD.

DJIA +150.25pts (1.52%) at 10058.68

S&P +13.78pts (1.30%) at 1070.52

Nasdaq +24.82pts (1.17%) at 2150.87

Stocks continued their downward slide, with the Dow Jones falling below 10,000pts, as investors sold off financials on the back of Euro-zone woes. Banks shares fell across the board, with BoA down more than 3%, JPMorgan -1.6% and Citigroup -2.2% over concerns over their possible exposure to Europe’s sovereign debt issues.

DJIA -103.84pts (1.04%) at 9908.39

S&P -9.45pts (0.89%) at 1056.74

Nasdaq -15.07pts (0.70%) at 2126.05