Schaeffer's Investment Research Inc.

US stocks plunged Friday after sagging consumer confidence and a mixed batch of second-quarter earnings revived fears about the health of the economic recovery.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. stock market landed at a technical crossroads following its best week in a year, yet the potential for positive earnings surprises beginning this week could give an edge to the bulls.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - LeBron fever is in full bloom in the options market.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bearish bets in the equity options market, coupled with an increasingly sour view from a technical perspective, suggest stocks will struggle to break from a vicious two-month downtrend this week.

US stock markets, beaten down by negative economic reports, will have a holiday-shortened week to regroup before the company earnings season gets underway.

Stock plunge to 4-month low on disappointing employment report and drop in euro; Dow falls 323. Stocks fell to their lowest level in four months Friday after the government said hiring remains weak and another European country warned its economy was in trouble.

Stock plunge to 4-month low on disappointing employment report and drop in euro; Dow falls 323. Stocks fell to their lowest level in four months Friday after the government said hiring remains weak and another European country warned its economy was in trouble.

Ratings agency Fitch cut Spain's credit rating due to its poor growth prospects just a day after the embattled government pushed through an austerity plan designed to address fears over its economy.

China, the world's largest holder of foreign exchange reserves, denied on Thursday a media report saying it was reviewing its holdings of eurozone debt, calling the report "baseless".

China, the world's largest holder of foreign exchange reserves, denied on Thursday a media report saying it was reviewing its holdings of eurozone debt, calling the report "baseless".

China -- which has the world's largest foreign exchange reserves -- is reviewing its holdings of eurozone debt amid the accelerating crisis in Europe, a report said.

US stocks slumped Thursday on European debt concerns and bearish US economic data, with the Dow index tumbling more than three percent for its biggest drop in more than a year.

A stronger-than-expected US economic recovery will catapult growth and substantially reduce unemployment this year, minutes of the latest Federal Reserve meeting said.

Stocks fall on weaker GDP and consumer data, news of criminal investigation of Goldman Sachs. Stocks suffered a big loss on the last day of April as investors showed their disappointment with two economic reports and worries about a criminal investigation of Goldman Sachs. But the major indexes still had their third straight monthly gain.

CHICAGO (Reuters) - There are active names in the options market and then there is Citigroup Inc <C.N>.

Palm shares soared Wednesday on Wall Street amid rumors the struggling US mobile device maker may be an acquisition target.

A debt downgrade for Portugal, along with other disappointing economic news set the tone for Wall Street, while the higher U.S. dollar pressured gold and other materials stocks and hurt the TSX. . Today on Stockhouse

US Federal Reserve policy makers held a meeting Tuesday widely expected to keep interest rates at record lows as financial markets look for signals of future monetary policy tightening.

US Federal Reserve policy makers held a meeting Tuesday widely expected to keep interest rates at record lows as financial markets look for signals of future monetary policy tightening.

European stock markets rallied on Friday following gains in Asian trading and overnight on Wall Street and as traders readied for key US jobs data.