For the week ending Friday, May 30, 2008, the markets finished up, with all major indices increasing ~1.3% or higher for the week. Only the Dow declined for the month, shedding 1.42%. The NASDAQ reached its third consecutive monthly gain , up 4.55% for the month. The markets were encouraged by better than expected earnings from retailers and strong results from Dell. U.S. GDP for 1Q also helped lift stocks up, as it rose 0.9% at an annual rate , better than the previous estimate. Crude Oil also retreated to lower levels.    Read More

On Wednesday a sharp gain in U.S. business investment offset renewed credit market jitters and oil rebounded to over $131 a barrel. What's the "Word on the Street?"   Read More

Cramer says he likes Emerson, Ralph Lauren and Nucor, too.   Read More

Dow's CEO, Andrew Liveris, noted that first quarter feedstock and energy costs were up "a staggering 42 percent," putting strains on the company and its relations with customers. For most chemical companies, price increases have failed to keep up with raw material increases.   Read More

The week was chock full of economic angst and M&A intrigue. But one dark constant loomed over all ... rising oil prices.   Read More

Ron Baron likes casinos and fancy clothes. The chairman and chief executive of Baron Capital joined CNBC's "Billionaire Summit" -- a select group of the world's most successful businesspeople -- to offer his investment outlook.    Read More

There are cheaper food companies that are just as good, Cramer says.   Read More

Dow Jones has created a Summer Games Index to track the companies involved in the Olympics.  How is it reacting to the protests?   Read More

As of Friday, 441 (just under 90%) of the S&P 500 companies have reported earnings. Here's a look at which companies have had the biggest surprises so far...   Read More

Last night, JC Penney unveiled its largest brand launch in company history--which also happens to be Ralph Lauren's biggest bet. Dubbed "American Living," the clothing and homegoods line is centered around the same-preppy aesthetic that Ralph Lauren has mastered but the price points are far from the high-end ticket prices that usually accompanies any RL project.    Read More