Stocks finished mixed Tuesday as techs struggled after a downgrade on Intel. Transports rose following news that that Warren Buffett is buying Burlington Northern railroad. Industrials also gained after this week's encouraging manufacturing reports.

Stocks tumbled Tuesday, led by techs after an analyst downgrade on Intel. Transports rose following news that Warren Buffett is buying Burlington Northern railroad.

With the markets in volatility mode, investors will likely be focusing on the Federal Reserve Tuesday, even though the 2-day Federal Open Market Committee meeting that begins this afternoon won't conclude until Wednesday. 

Tool maker Stanley Works agreed to acquire rival Black & Decker in an all-stock merger valued at $4.5 billion, the two companies announced.

Stocks advanced Thursday as investors seemed to focus more on some big-name earnings beats and a rise in leading indicators instead of a disappointing jobless report. Travelers and MMM led the Dow.

Stocks advanced Thursday as investors seemed to focus more on some big-name earnings beats and a rise in leading indicators instead of a disappointing jobless report.

Stocks slipped Thursday as investors weighed a disappointing jobless-claims report and some encouraging earnings reports.

Earnings continue to come in largely above expectations, but other factors are waylaying the stock market's recent advances - ranging from Walmart's price cuts to analyst Richard Bove's downgrade of Wells Fargo to rising oil prices. 

Stocks shot out of the gate Monday, fueled by earnings optimism, but then pulled back near the final hour of trading as investors took some profits.

The latest batch of earnings took a toll on the market Friday but the Dow still pulled off a gain in the final half hour of trading, capping its best two-week performance since 2000. Microsoft shares fell more than 8%.

Stocks took a hit Friday as a drop in consumer sentiment exacerbated losses triggered by a disappointing round of earnings from Microsoft, Amazon and AmEx. But the Dow poked higher in afternoon trading Microsoft shares fell nearly 10%.

Stocks skidded Friday as a drop in consumer sentiment exacerbated losses triggered by a disappointing round of earnings from American Express, Amazon and Microsoft.

Futures indicated a lower open for Wall Street on Friday, probably due to earnings exhaustion, as after-the-bell results reports from American Express, Amazon.com and Microsoft disappointed investors.