Rally In Stocks

NEW YORK -- U.S. stocks were mixed yesterday as a drop in chemical shares countered gains in technology issues. Concern that corporate earnings growth will slow later this year held the market back.Although major market gauges all eked out gains to new highs, more stocks fell than rose on the New York Stock Exchange. About 11 stocks declined for every 10 that advanced.Chemicals led the declines after Rohm & Haas Co. told analysts late Tuesday that it probably won't surpass its record second-quarter profit of a year ago because of a weakening economy.

NEW YORK -- U.S. stocks rose to records yet again yesterday as investors grew more confident that corporate profits will expand.The Dow Jones industrial average rose 21.68, to a record 5,199.13, in a seesaw session that saw the average rise above 5,200 for the first time. It was the 68th record this year, and boosted the average's gain for the year to 35.5 percent. Shares of Eastman Kodak Co., Coca-Cola Co., General Electric Co. and Philip Morris Cos. led the way.Expectations that the Federal Reserve will trim interest rates later this month fueled optimism that the year-old rally in stocks still has room to grow.

NEW YORK -- U.S. stocks registered their biggest drop in more than a month yesterday amid signs of weakening corporate profits and a Federal Reserve governor's comment about a possible rise in interest rates.Stocks reached records earlier this week on the expectation that low interest rates would keep profits growing. Procter & Gamble Co. and Corning Inc. dented that optimism, becoming the latest companies to offer disappointing earnings outlooks.The Dow Jones industrial average fell 36.15, or 0.61 percent, to 5,930.

NEW YORK -- U.S. stocks rose yesterday as declining interest rates boosted the profit outlook for J. P. Morgan & Co. and other banks. Software shares dropped, limiting the market's gains.Stocks followed bond prices higher after a private manufacturing survey suggested the economy isn't growing fast enough to prompt the Federal Reserve to raise rates today as an anti-inflation measure. Steady or falling rates and rising earnings have underpinned this year's 20 percent rally in stocks."It can't get much better, but I think it can continue to be good for some time," said Lee Kopp, president of Kopp Investment Advisers, which manages $3.3 billion.

NEW YORK -- U.S. stocks surged to records yesterday after a government jobs report pointed to stable or lower interest rates and higher corporate profits.Investors shoveled money into stocks such as American Express Co. and J. P. Morgan & Co. as bond yields tumbled to four-month lows. Financial companies enjoy fatter profits when rates decline.The jobs report confirmed the view that the economy has slowed enough to keep inflation from rising, yet is growing enough to fuel increases in earnings.

NEW YORK -- U.S. stocks rose yesterday for the first time in five days as investors snapped up beaten-down computer shares and Wall Street strategists suggested that equities already reflect most of the bad news from Asia.Intel Corp. and Microsoft Corp. led the market's rebound from early losses triggered by tumbling markets from Hong Kong to Stockholm, Sweden."Prices got low enough that investors said to themselves, 'Let's step in and pick up some bargains,' " said Joe Stocke, a money manager at CoreStates/Meridian Investment Co., which oversees $2.5 billion in stocks.

Rising interest rates suddenly are giving global stock markets a fear of heights. Shares slumped worldwide yesterday as long-term bond yields surged and several central banks boosted their bellwether short-term rates. U.S. market indexes suffered their biggest declines in three months, with the Dow Jones industrial average sliding 198.94 points, or 1.48 percent to 13,266.73, its third straight loss. But the same force driving interest rates up - a strong world economy - also has underpinned the powerful rally in stocks this year, analysts note.

With annual returns as high as 30 percent for many stock mutual funds this year, it's tempting to tally up your profits.But don't forget to calculate the effect on your profits of Uncle Sam.Mutual fund investors who have enjoyed the yearlong rally in stocks soon will get the good news-bad news reports from their fund companies that detail the year-end payouts, called distributions, from their funds.Many investors will see a nice big number, with most rolling their gains into new fund shares.

NEW YORK -- U.S. stocks rose yesterday, buoyed by the release of higher-than-expected earnings from leading companies like Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. and reports of strong orders at semiconductor companies.TC The Dow Jones industrial average surged 25.89, to 3,931.92, and the average has now recouped more than half of Friday's losses. Gains in AlliedSignal Inc., Procter & Gamble Co. and Aluminum Co. of America accounted for almost half the average's advance.The Standard & Poor's 500 Index rose 1.72, to 472.77, and the Nasdaq Combined Index climbed 3.83, to 786.53.

I n the aftermath of the 2008 stock market crash that wiped out retirement accounts, nervous investors stampeded for cover and poured a record number of dollars into bond mutual funds last year. Some fund experts say this embrace of bond funds isn't letting up, despite a rally in stocks. And the continued shift to bonds could backfire on investors. Bond funds aren't expected to repeat last year's performance, when certain fixed-income sectors nearly matched or surpassed returns on stock funds.