*Chesapeake shares drop after SEC escalates investigation. *Groupon rallies after CEO exits. NEW YORK, March 1- U.S. stocks advanced modestly on Friday, leaving the S&P 500 with slight gains in a volatile week as strong economic data overshadowed growth concerns in China and Europe and let investors discount the impact of expected U.S. government spending cuts.
*Chesapeake shares drop after SEC escalates investigation. *Groupon rallies after CEO exits. NEW YORK, March 1- U.S. stocks rose modestly on Friday as strong economic data outweighed growth concerns in China and Europe and let investors brush off worries about the impact of expected across-the-board U.S. goverment spending cuts.
*Groupon rallies after chief executive exits. China's factory growth cooled to multi-month lows in February as domestic demand dipped, and euro zone manufacturing activity appeared no closer to recovery last month, as a dire performance in France offset a return to growth in Germany.
*Groupon rallies in premarket as chief executive leaves. Overseas, China's factory growth cooled to multi-month lows in February as domestic demand dipped, and euro zone manufacturing activity appeared no closer to recovery last month, as a dire performance in France offset a return to growth in Germany.
*Groupon rallies in premarket as chief executive leaves. NEW YORK, March 1- U.S. stock index futures were lower on Friday, indicating a weak start to the month of March as investors looked ahead to U.S. government budget cuts that were widely expected to take effect at the end of the day.
*Chesapeake shares off after SEC escalates investigation. *Groupon rallies after chief executive exits. NEW YORK, March 1- U.S. stocks edged higher on Friday as strong economic figures more than offset growth concerns out of China and Europe and as investors shrugged off expected across-the-board U.S. goverment spending cuts.
Feb 28- Salesforce.com Inc on Thursday reported better-a3060reuff. Feb 28- Salesforce.com Inc on Thursday reported better-than-expected quarterly sales of $835 million, backed by strong sales of its cloud-based services.
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 28- Salesforce.com Inc on Thursday reported better-than-expected quarterly sales of $835 million, backed by strong sales of its cloud-based services. The company, which provides sales and marketing software to companies like Coca-Cola and Ford Motor, beat analysts' revenue forecasts of $831 million.
*J.C. Penney, Groupon both sink on weak revenue. NEW YORK, Feb 28- U.S. stock index futures edged modestly higher on Thursday as investors were reluctant to make big bets following a sharp two-day rally and ahead of a rash of data.
Washington's budget debate could stir up new anxieties as markets head into March, even with expected reassurances about Fed policy from Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke in the week ahead. Europe could also come back into play in the coming week, as currency traders are focused on the outcome of the Italian election.