NEW YORK (Reuters) – Stocks hit session lows and the Nasdaq turned negative on Wednesday as shares of Apple Inc (AAPL.O) gave up earlier gains and moved into the red.

The Dow Jones industrial average (.DJI) dropped 87.49 points, or 0.68 percent, to 12,790.79. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (.SPX) lost 4.40 points, or 0.33 percent, to 1,346.10. The Nasdaq Composite Index (.IXIC) fell 6.36 points, or 0.22 percent, to 2,925.47.

(Reporting By Chuck Mikolajczak; Editing by Kenneth Barry)

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Stocks edged up at the open on Wednesday after better-than-expected New York Fed manufacturing data and remarks that reiterated China’s commitment to investing in euro zone debt.

The Dow Jones industrial average (.DJI) edged up 19.29 points, or 0.15 percent, at 12,897.57. The S&P 500 Index (.SPX) added 3.96 points, or 0.29 percent, at 1,354.46. The Nasdaq Composite (.IXIC) rose 12.31 points, or 0.42 percent, at 2,944.14.

Gains were capped after a separate report showed U.S. industrial production was unexpectedly flat in January.

(Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Stocks closed little changed on Tuesday, erasing losses in the final 20 minutes of trading, after a Greek government source said the conservative party leader would make a written commitment sought by international lenders.

Based on the latest available data, the Dow Jones industrial average (.DJI) was up 4.24 points, or 0.03 percent, at 12,878.28. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (.SPX) was down 1.27 points, or 0.09 percent, at 1,350.50. The Nasdaq Composite Index (.IXIC) was up 0.44 point, or 0.02 percent, at 2,931.83.

(Reporting By Caroline Valetkevitch; Editing by Kenneth Barry)

NEW YORK (Reuters) – The S&P 500 index retreated from near a seven-month high Tuesday after weaker-than-expected January U.S. retail sales data curbed investors’ appetite for risky assets.

U.S. retail sales rose less than expected in January as consumers cut back on car purchases and shopped less online.

The disappointing data added to concerns stemming from Moody’s downgrade Monday of ratings on six euro-zone countries.

“The state of the consumer is still pretty mild. We have had some good economic news but still pretty mild trends all around,” said Sean Incremona, an economist at 4CAST in New York.

The Dow Jones industrial average (.DJI) was down 28.01 points, or 0.22 percent, at 12,846.03. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (.SPX) was down 3.97 points, or 0.29 percent, at 1,347.80. The Nasdaq Composite Index (.IXIC) was down 10.23 points, or 0.35 percent, at 2,921.16.

On Monday, the S&P 500 rose near a seven-month high, up more than 25 percent from a low in early October. The benchmark index is hitting strong resistance in the 1,355-1,360 area, a possible trigger for a pullback.

Pressuring the financial sector, Citigroup downgraded Bank of America Corp (BAC.N) to “neutral” from “buy,” saying earnings headwinds would continue at the company even as capital concerns subside. Bank of America shares were down 1.1 percent at $8.16.

(Editing by Padraic Cassidy)

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Stocks extended gains on Monday, with the Nasdaq rising one percent on strength in large-cap tech shares.

Equities had been higher earlier after Greece’s parliament approved strict financial reforms needed to obtain an international bailout package.

The Dow Jones industrial average (.DJI) was up 85.52 points, or 0.67 percent, at 12,886.75. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (.SPX) was up 10.50 points, or 0.78 percent, at 1,353.14. The Nasdaq Composite Index (.IXIC) was up 29.26 points, or 1.01 percent, at 2,933.14.

Apple Inc (AAPL.O) was one of the top boosts to the Nasdaq, rising 1.6 percent to $501.39. Google Inc (GOOG.O) gained 1.2 percent to $612.97.

(Editing by Kenneth Barry)

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Stocks rose at the open Monday, with the S&P 500 recouping nearly all of its declines from the previous session, as Greece’s parliament approved strict financial reforms needed to obtain its latest international bailout package.

The European banking shares index (.SX7P) gained 1.1 percent, and an index of Greek banks (.FTATBNK) surged 13.5 percent after the vote, which had sparked widespread rioting in Athens. The euro gained 0.15 percent against the dollar.

Bank of America Corp (BAC.N) climbed 2.4 percent to $8.27 in New York and Citigroup Inc (C.N) advanced 2 percent to $33.59. The KBW bank index (.BKX) added 1 percent.

“There was some apprehension about it, but the fact of the matter is it was done, and it’s given some very real clarity to markets in terms of what kind of risk Greece represents to the market,” said Peter Kenny, managing director at Knight Capital in Jersey City, New Jersey.

“The politicians that were put in place, particularly the prime minister by the (European Central Bank), delivered on the goods, and the markets are largely banking on the fact he will be able to deliver on the actual outcome.”

Even with parliamentary approval, the Greek government remained under pressure to convince a skeptical euro zone that it would abide by the terms of a multi-billion-euro rescue package.

While Greece’s economy is small in the context of the euro zone, investors are concerned the ramifications of a disorderly default could spread through the financial system and put other weaker members of the bloc at risk.

The Dow Jones industrial average (.DJI) gained 55.93 points, or 0.44 percent, to 12,857.16. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (.SPX) rose 7.30 points, or 0.54 percent, to 1,349.94. The Nasdaq Composite Index (.IXIC) added 22.46 points, or 0.77 percent, to 2,926.34.

The benchmark S&P index traded near the 1,350 level, seen as a resistance point, which some analysts see as a possible trigger for a pullback after a rally of more than 7 percent to start the year.

Apple Inc (AAPL.O) raised the stakes in an intensifying global patent battle with Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) by targeting Samsung’s latest model using Google Inc.’s (GOOG.O) fast growing Android software, a move that may affect other Android phone makers.

Apple shares were up 1.8 percent to $502.41 and Google edged up 1 percent to $612.

Google is expected to win approval from European regulators, as well as from U.S. antitrust authorities, for its planned $12.5 billion purchase of Motorola Mobility (MMI.N), according to people familiar with the matter.

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc (REGN.O) jumped 11.5 percent to $113.83 after the company significantly raised its 2012 sales forecast for its key eye drug, Eylea.

As earnings season moves into its final stages, 51 companies in the S&P 500 are scheduled to report results this week. According to Thomson Reuters data through Monday, of the 357 companies in the benchmark index that have released results, 64 percent have beat analyst expectations.

President Barack Obama is scheduled to submit to the U.S. Congress his fiscal 2013 budget proposal, which attempts to chart a fiscal path for the next 10 years.

(Reporting By Chuck Mikolajczak; Editing by Padraic Cassidy)

NEW YORK (Reuters) – The S&P posted its biggest percentage decline so far in 2012 on Friday after an about-face on Greece’s long-awaited debt deal ended a five-week streak of gains for equities.

Based on the latest available data, the Dow Jones industrial average (.DJI) was down 89.31 points, or 0.69 percent, at 12,801.15. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (.SPX) was down 9.33 points, or 0.69 percent, at 1,342.62. The Nasdaq Composite Index (.IXIC) was down 23.35 points, or 0.80 percent, at 2,903.88.

For the week, the Dow was down 0.5 percent, S&P was down 0.2 percent and the Nasdaq was down 0.06 percent.

(Reporting By Caroline Valetkevitch; Editing by Kenneth Barry)

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Stocks open higher on Thursday after Greek leaders clinched a long-stalled deal on reforms and data indicated the U.S. labor market continued to improve.

The Dow Jones industrial average (.DJI) was up 28.61 points, or 0.22 percent, at 12,912.56. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (.SPX) rose 3.25 points, or 0.24 percent, at 1,353.21. The Nasdaq Composite Index (.IXIC) put on 9.03 points, or 0.31 percent, at 2,924.89.

(Reporting By Angela Moon; editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Stocks ended up slightly on Tuesday, but with the outcome of discussions on a bailout package for Greece uncertain, investors are unlikely to make big bets in coming days.

Based on the latest available data, the Dow Jones industrial average (.DJI) was up 35.72 points, or 0.28 percent, at 12,880.85. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (.SPX) was up 2.85 points, or 0.21 percent, at 1,347.18. The Nasdaq Composite Index (.IXIC) was up 2.18 points, or 0.08 percent, at 2,904.17.

(Reporting By Caroline Valetkevitch; Editing by Leslie Adler)

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Stocks opened lower on Monday after a five-week rally on concerns Greece will be unable to avoid a chaotic default as it tries to reach terms on a new bailout package.

The Dow Jones industrial average (.DJI) dropped 53.20 points, or 0.41 percent, to 12,809.03. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (.SPX) dropped 5.81 points, or 0.43 percent, to 1,339.09. The Nasdaq Composite Index (.IXIC) dropped 15.26 points, or 0.53 percent, to 2,890.40.

(Reporting By Edward Krudy; editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)