Equities Org UK has moved to: http://www.equities-news.com/.

Please update your bookmarks accordingly. The Equities News feed can be found at: http://www.equities-news.com/feed/

You can also find other equities news at the following addresses:

Equities News at Investment Markets
Investing & equities news at Finance Markets

Please note that Equities Org has now moved!

You can find all of the latest investment news and information here: Finance Markets News

For more detailed information on stocks and equities, please reference the following equities news sites:

1. Equities News - general latest equities news.
2. New York Stock Exchange News - New York stock exchange news - NASDAQ and Dow Jones, etc.
3. Eurofirst News - European exchange stocks news
4. Tokyo Market News - Nikkei and Topix index news
5. FTSE 100 News - UK shares index news

The New York equities markets moved little on Thursday on a mixed batch of economic news. The Dow Jones Industrial average was up a bit to 10,558.75, the Nasdaq composite fell 0.2 percent to 2,146.15, and the S&P 500 gained a fraction to end the session at 1,227.71.

One analyst said that the market’s unwillingness to move too much stemmed from uncertainty over what the Federal Reserve will do with interest rates when it meets on September 20.

Meanwhile, government figures showed that inflation was being kept in check, but reports from the New York and Philadelphia Federal Reserve Banks showed that manufacturing costs were higher and orders were down in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

In addition, first time unemployment claims jumped by 71,000 last week, also largely due to Katrina.

Shares in internet search companies were mixed on the day. Google dropped 0.1 percent to $302.62 when it priced its $4 billion secondary share offering at $295 per share, while Chinese internet search company Baidu gained 0.8 percent to $82 after a 28 percent drop on Wednesday.

Time Warner, meanwhile, added 3.2 percent to $18.48 on newspaper rumors that it was in talks about selling a part of its stake in AOL to Microsoft. Shares in Microsoft was up 0.2 percent on the news.

In the fast food sector, McDonald’s led the Dow ahead of an analysts’ meeting, advancing by 3.4 percent to $33.45.

The New York equities markets were down on the day Wednesday as new government data revealed slower than expected retail sales and weak industrial production numbers.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.5 percent to 10,544.90, the Nasdaq composite was down 1 percent to 2,149.33, and the S&P 500 lost 0.3 percent to 1,227.16. In the airlines sector, amid more talk of imminent bankruptcies, Northwest Airlines added 19 percent but Delta Air Lines dropped another 9 percent.

Retailers were mostly down on the day. Hardware retailer Loew’s dropped 2.2 percent to $65.99, while Target was off by 2.7 percent to $52.75. Bedding retailer Linens ’n Things, however, saw a gain of 8.9 percent to $28.25 on reports that it has called in advisors and is thinking offering itself for sale.

Elsewhere, internet search engine Google was to begin selling $4.4 billion in new shares, with the goal of building a fund that might be used on new acquisitions, after the close of the trading day. In advance of the offering, Google’s shares dropped 2.8 percent to $303.00 on the day. Among gainers was investment bank Lehman Brothers, which added 1.3 percent to $113.75 after it announced that its quarterly profits were up by 74 percent.

Results were mixed in the New York equities markets on Monday, but with not much movement in either direction by the end of the session. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up a fraction to 10,682.94 and the Nasdaq composite gained 0.3 percent to 2,182.83, but the S&P 500 fell fractionally to 1,240.57.

The lackluster performance followed gains last week that came on optimism that the huge reconstruction job after Hurricane Katrina would benefit the economy.

Two airlines trying to avoid bankruptcy saw declines. Shares in Northwest Airlines dropped by 3.3 percent to $3.31 after discussions with striking mechanics broke down, and Delta Air Lines fell by 22.7 percent to 85 cents as rumors circulated that a bankruptcy filing could come at any time.

In the oil and gas sectors, retreats were also abundant. Oil refiner Sunoco dropped 4.5 percent to $76.09, while Exxon Mobil lost 1.1 percent to $62.52 as crude oil prices fell. Meanwhile, natural gas producer Dynergy lost 1.9 percent to $4.66 after it announced that two of its facilities were damaged by Katrina.

Elsewhere, eBay was up by 0.8 percent to $38.94 after it announced that it will purchase internet telephone group Skype for $2.6 billion. Contractor Halliburton dropped by 3.8 percent to $63.60.

Amid more talk from some but not analysts that Hurricane Katrina could be a stimulus to the economy and that it could result in at least a pause in the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hikes while the Gulf Coast rebuilds, the New York equities markets ended the day Friday and the week up. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.8 percent on the day to 10,678.56.

It was up 2.2 percent for the week and has gained 2.7 percent since August 26, the Friday before Katrina ravaged the US Gulf Coast. The Nasdaq composite was up 0.4 percent on Friday to 2,175.51, gaining 1.6 percent on the week and 2.6 percent since August 26.

The S&P 500 added 0.8 percent to 1,241.48 on Friday, was up 1.9 percent on the week, and has gained 3 percent since August 26.

The oil sector has seen big gains since Katrina hit. Valero Energy was up 3.1 percent to $114.97 on Friday; it has risen 28.2 percent since August 26 and is up 150 percent this year.

Sunoco gained 3.5 percent Friday to $79.65 and has added 25.6 percent since August 26. Meanwhile, homebuilders seemed to recover on Friday after declines earlier in the week.

Hovnanian gained 1.3 percent Friday to $58.21 but lost 2 percent on the week. Toll Brothers gained 1.7 percent to $48.08 Friday for a 1 percent gain during the week, while Pulte was up 4.3 percent to $45.71 on Friday and a 6.9 percent gain over the week.

The New York Equities markets were down slightly on Thursday after big gains on Tuesday and more subdued gains on Wednesday, as the market seems to have been proceeding on the assumption that the economy will benefit from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina rather than decline due to disruptions and dislocations.

Most analysts are betting that in the wake of the storm rebuilding will benefit the economy, interest rates will stop rising, and oil prices will go down. Others are not so sure that this will be the case.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.4 percent to close the day at 10,595.93, the Nasdaq composite lost 0.3 percent to 2,166.03, and the S&P 500 declined by 0.4 percent to 1,231.68.

Homebuilders were generally down on the day, with Hovnanian leading the decline after reporting earnings that fell below predictions. Hovnanian fell by 6.7 percent to $57.49. Elsewhere in the sector, KB Homes declined by 1.6 percent to $74.69, Lennar fell 2.4 percent to $60.95, and Toll Brothers lost 3.3 percent to $47.25.

Coca-Cola Enterprises dropped 9.6 percent on the news that it had reported less-than-positive earnings guidance. Discount retailer Sears Holdings fell by 5.2 percent to $127.81 on earnings that were below expectations. EBay lost 3.8 percent to $38.93, bringing its decline for the year to 34 percent and making it one of the S&P’s worst performers.

On the other hand, Apple gained 2.3 percent to $59.78 as it presented its new iPod for mobile phones.

As investors and analysts seemed to be taking the tack that the recovery from Hurricane Katrina might actually help the economy out, despite an estimate from Treasury Secretary John Snow that the fallout from Katrina could cut half a percentage point off US economic growth for the year, New York equities markets were up again on Wednesday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.4 percent to 10,633.50, the Nasdaq composite index was up 0.2 percent to 2,172.03, and the S&P 500 advanced by 0.2 percent to 1,236.36.

Fast food and hotel and casino operators saw gains on the day. The hotel and casino sector fell last week, largely on hits to that industry in the hurricane zone, but is seeing a recovery this week. Starwood was up 2.3 percent to $59.80, Hilton Hotels gained 2.7 percent to $23.61, and Harrah’s Entertainment added 5.4 percent to $72.21. In the fast food sector, Yum Brands, the operator of KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell, was up 6.1 percent to $50.66 on comments that higher energy prices do not seem to be having much effect on sales. McDonald’s gained 3.2 percent to $33.70. Wendy’s advanced by 3.1 percent to $48.55.

The steel sector was also up, at least partly on expected demand in the wake of Katrina, as US Steel gained 2.2 percent to $44.71 and Nucor added 1.6 percent to $58.55. Losers on the day included semiconductor company Altera, which lost 7.8 percent to $20.11.

The equities markets in New York were up sharply on Tuesday after the Labor Day holiday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.4 percent to 10,565.12, the Nasdaq composite was up 1.2 percent to 2,166.86, and the S&P 500 advanced by 1.3 percent to 1,233.40.

For the S&P, it was the largest percentage rise in a day since April 21. Every sector within the S&P saw gains on the day, with the real estate and retail sectors each up by over 2.3 percent.

Even the energy sector was up 0.7 percent. The energy sector did not see gains across the board as Dynergy fell by 3.1 percent to $4.36, but Valero Energy gained 0.9 percent to $109.41.

Among retailers, Dollar General was up 1.2 percent to $18.41, Target gained 1.5 percent to $53.96, and Wal-Mart, which had been declining recently on the effect of high oil prices and the concerns they raised about consumer spending, added 2.6 percent to $45.69. Still, Wal-Mart remains off its highs of the past year by 21 percent.

Elsewhere, Home Depot was up 3.4 percent to $41.71 on the belief that the need for rebuilding and repairs after Hurricane Katrina would increase sales for the home improvement retailer. In another sector affected by the storm, Tenet Healthcare fell by 0.6 percent to $11.93 as it continued to evacuate patients and staff from six hospitals in the region.

It was a losing day on Wall Street on Friday, but the major indices managed to post gains on the week, remarkable in a week that saw the worst hurricane to ever hit the US coast and a number of economic reports that were far from positive.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.12 percent on the day to 10,447.37, although it gained 0.4 percent on the week. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq composite lost 0.32 percent for the day to close at 2,141.07, a gain of 1 percent on the week, and the S&P 500 was down 0.29 percent on the day but up 1.1 percent on the week to close Friday’s session at 1,218.02.

The oil sector made significant gains as prices rose due to closures of oil platforms and refineries as well as predictions of supply shortages. Construction companies and their materials suppliers also saw gains as it became clear that extensive rebuilding in the hurricane zone would be necessary.

The S&P 500 oil and gas refiners’ index gained 17.8 percent on the week. In individual oil stocks, ExxonMobil was down 1.3 percent on Friday but gained 4.3 percent on the week to $60.87, Sunoco fell 1.5 percent on Friday but was up 18 percent on the week, and Valero Energy gained 0.4 percent on the day and 16.6 percent on the week to $109.96.

In the construction sector, Halliburton was up 8.6 percent on the week, even though it lost 1.3 percent to close at $62.35. Retailers had a bad week, as the S&P 500 apparel retailers index fell 3.7 percent on the week and the department store index lost 4.9 percent.

Leisure sectors also saw declines, as the S&P casino index was down 5.1 percent and the hotels index lost 4.1 percent, both on concerns of the short and long-term effects of Katrina on sector business in the Southeast US.

The New York equities markets were mixed on Thursday as more bad news from the hurricane zone came in as well, on top of several items of negative data on the economy.

While the S&P 500 was up slightly to 1,221.59, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.7 percent to 10,459.63 and the Nasdaq composite was down slightly to 2,147.90.

Among the reports released during the day were those showing that consumer spending was up by 1 percent in July, while personal income was up only 0.3 percent and personal savings was at negative 0.6 percent, the lowest level in the 46 years the government has been keeping statistics. Another report showed manufacturing activity down in August.

Energy stocks did especially well on the day. XTO Energy was up 2.4 percent to $40.77, Valero Energy gained 2.8 percent to $109.50, and ExxonMobil added 2.97 percent to $61.68.

Among retailers, Costco gained 0.5 percent to $43.18 and Wal-Mart was up 0.3 percent to $45.09 on a 3.3 percent rise in sales, but Target lost 1.8 percent to $52.78 even though it reported an increase in sales of 6.3 percent.

One of the biggest gainers on the day was in the pharmaceutical sector, as Chiron gained 17.81 percent to $42.93 when Novartis offered $4.5 billion to purchase the rest of the company. Novartis gained 1 percent to $49.19.

The New York equities markets were up on Wednesday despite bad news from the area affected by Hurricane Katrina as well as economic news that showed economic growth up less than expected in the second quarter and data showing the manufacturing sector contracting for the first time in two years in August.

Higher oil prices were blamed for the negative economic data. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.7 percent to 10,484.52, the Nasdaq composite added 1.1 percent to 2,152.09, and the S&P 500 was up by 1 percent to 1,220.31. The S&P energy index gained 2.6 percent, while its insurance index was flat due to worries centered around the amount of damage caused by Katrina.

Insurer Allstate lost 0.8 percent on the day to $56.21, and it has lost nearly 4 percent since the hurricane made landfall on Monday. In contrast American Insurance Group was up 0.1 percent to $59.04.

In the energy sector TransOcean was up 2.6 percent to $59.04, Sunoco gained 5.6 percent to $72.61, and Valero Energy advanced by 10 percent to $106.50.

In the healthcare sector, hospital operator Tenet Healthcare lost 3.8 percent to $12.18 when it said it had closed six facilities because of the effect of Hurricane Katrina.

In more positive territory, luxury jewelry retailer Tiffany gained 12.3 percent to $37.42 on the announcement that its earnings were better than expected in the quarter and that it had raised its guidance for the full year.

The effects of Hurricane Katrina began to be felt on the New York equities markets on Tuesday, a combination of soaring oil prices, news of damage to the infrastructure in the areas affected that will cost insurers billions of dollars, and closures of retailers in the region hit by the storm.

Not even a report of increased consumer confidence in August helped much. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.5 percent on the day to close at 10,412.82, the Nasdaq composite lost 0.4 percent to 2,129, and the S&P 500 closed down 0.3 percent to 1,208.41.

All areas of the transport sector felt the effect of high oil prices. Delta Airlines, which was already near bankruptcy, lost 5.5 percent to $1.20 as the Amex airline index fell 3 percent to 46.75.

Ground transport was not immune either, as United Parcel Service fell 1.1 percent to $70.42 and rail freight company CSX declined by 1.7 percent to $44.85.

Insurers and reinsures dropped as damage estimates in the hurricane zone rose. Hartford Financial Services lost nearly 0.3 percent to $73.15, while American International Group declined by 0.4 percent to $59.28. Retailers and restaurants were down on the day, with many of them suffering closures in the storm-affected areas.

Wal-Mart lost 1 percent to $45.19 after it said that 123 of its stores had been closed due to the hurricane. Jewelry retailer Tiffany lost 2.6 percent to $33.31. Office supply chain Staples lost 2.9 percent to $21.85.

The oil sector, on the other hand saw substantial gains. Refiner ConocoPhillips was up 2.1 percent to $64.41, while oilfield services company Halliburton saw the value of its shares rise 3.5 percent to $59.84.

Despite the chaos caused by Hurricane Katrina on the US Gulf Coast on Monday, the New York equities markets recovered from early losses to close in positive territory for the day.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 0.6 percent to 10,463.05, the Nasdaq composite ended the day ahead by 0.8 percent to 2,137.65, and the S&P 500 gained 0.6 percent to close at 1,212.31.

Higher oil prices helped oil companies to gains. Chevron gained 0.2 percent to $59.51, while BP added 0.4 percent to close at $66.35.

Some companies saw gains due to projections of increases in business due to the hurricane. For example, housing products retailer Home Depot was up 1.8 percent to $40.54. Others were down on the day due to the effects of the storm.

Insurers were hard hit, as it was estimated that losses from the Katrina might total as high as $25 billion, the costliest storm in the history of the US. St. Paul’s Travellers lost 1.1 percent and Allstate was down by 1.3 percent to $57.18. Isle of Capri Casinos was down by 2.9 percent to $23.47. The company, which runs riverboat casinos in Louisiana and Mississippi could sustain severe losses if their facilities are damaged, as production disruption insurance generally does not come into force until 90 days after the damage occurs.

On the winning side for the day PaAmSat, a new satellite operator set to become the largest in the world, gained 20.2 percent on the day to $23.80.

The New York equities markets were down on the day Friday and on the week as durable goods orders and sales of existing homes were down, as well as on data released on Friday by the University of Michigan that consumer sentiment in the US has fallen more than was expected.

Not helpful for the markets, either, were comments by Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan that housing prices are unbalanced and could end up affecting the US economy adversely.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.5 percent on the day and 1.5 percent on the week to close at 10,397.29, the Nasdaq composite fell 0.6 percent Friday and 0.7 percent for the week to 2,120.77, and the S&P 500 was down by 0.6 percent for the day and 1.2 percent on the week to 1,205.1, leaving both the Nasdaq and the S&P at their lowest levels since the middle of July.

Some companies that saw losses this week blamed climbing oil prices that cut into consumer spending for other items.

Applebee’s International, the restaurant chain, said that high oil prices were the main reason that it reduced its earnings predictions for the year. Applebee’s lost 8.1 percent on the week to close at $22.36 on Friday.

Furniture maker La-Z-Boy lost 3.8 percent this week to end at $13.51 after it said second-quarter sales would be down due to high oil prices impinging on consumer spending in other areas.

Homebuilders saw losses on the week despite a report of a record month for sales of new homes in July. Beazer Homes lost 4.4 percent on the week to $58.56, KB Homes lost 2.6 percent to $$70.09, and Pulte Homes declined by 1.7 percent to $83.02. The S&P sector index for homebuilders dropped 1.2 percent on the week.

There were gains on the week, with York International, the heater and air conditioner maker, up 37 percent to $57 after an offer from Johnson Controls.

The rest of the sector also saw gains. In the technology sector, Hewlett Packard gained 0.4 percent to $27.01 when it said it would invest $150 million in radio frequency identification technology.

The New York equities markets closed up on the day Thursday, but the gains they made were nearly cancelled out when oil prices rose once again during the day.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.2 percent to 10,450.63, the Nasdaq composite was up 0.3 percent to 2,134.37, and the S&P 500 added 0.2 percent to 1,212.40.

The biggest gain of the day came from heating and air conditioning manufacturer York International, which gained 36 percent to $56.79 after auto parts supplier Johnson Controls offered a takeover bid. Other companies in the sector also rose.

Lennox International added 5.8 percent on the day to $24.48, while American Standard rose by 2.9 percent to $44.88. Elsewhere, Six Flags gained 11 percent to $7.26 after it said it would seek outside buyers in an effort to turn back an effort by one of its investors to take over the company.

In the automobile manufacturing sector, Ford and General Motors both fell after Moody’s cut their debt ratings to junk status after the close of trade on Wednesday. Ford dropped 1 percent to $9.82, while GM lost 0.5 percent to $34.09.

Chain retailers Lowe’s and Best Buy did well on the day. Home improvement company Lowe’s was up 2.1 percent to $64.19, while home electronics retailer Best Buy added 2.9 percent to $46.75.

Higher oil prices managed to wipe out any early gains on the New York equities markets on Wednesday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 0.8 percent to 10,434.87, the Nasdaq composite ended up 0.4 percent lower at 2,128.91, while the S&P 500 dropped 0.7 percent on the day to close at 1,209.59.

The early gains had been in response to data showing record new-home sales in the US in July, and some home builders managed to hang on to their gains at the end of the session.

Beazer Homes was up 2.6 percent to $60.98, Pulte Homes added 1.6 percent to $84.84, and Centex rose by 0.9 percent to $66.13.

The restaurant industry saw losses on the day as worries continued that high gasoline prices are cutting into consumer spending.

Restaurant chain Applebee’s International lost 7 percent to $22.37 after it cut its 2005 earnings forecast and blamed it on high oil prices. Outback Steakhouse also was down on the day, falling 2 percent to $42.92, while Brinker International dropped 3 percent to $42.49.

Meanwhile, Google gained 1.1 percent to $282.57 when it announced its first venture into the internet telephone market.

The New York equities markets fell on Tuesday in response to numbers showing the number of existing homes sold were below predictions even though the figures showed that the housing sector continues to prosper as the number of homes sold during the month was the third largest ever.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.5 percent to 10,519.58, the Nasdaq composite fell 0.2 percent to 2,137.25, and the S&P 500 declined by 0.3 percent to 1,217.58.

The news about housing sales sent shares in home builders down. KBH homes saw the biggest loss, declining by 1.7 percent to $70.96. Lennar fell 1.3 percent to $58.93, while Pulte Homes lost 0.8 percent to $83.48. The home furnishings sector was also down on the day. La-Z-Boy blamed rising oil prices as it announced that it expects second-quarter sales figures to be down as it fell 3 percent to $13.57. Ethan Allen Interiors lost 1.2 percent to $31.94, and Furniture Brands International also lost 1.2 percent to end the day at $19.27.

The pharmaceuticals sector was mostly up, except for Merck, which fell by 1.2 percent as it still was feeling the effects of the personal-injury judgment against the company on Friday. Elsewhere, the sector did not seem to be bothered by Merck’s troubles. Amylin Pharmaceuticals was up 27.7 percent to $28 on the announcement that test results were positive for a weekly injection treatment for type 2 diabetes patients. Eli Lilly, which helped develop the drug with Amylin, was up 1.9 percent to $53.72, while Alkermes, which developed the injection system that will be used with the drug, added 11.6 percent to $17.67.

The New York equities markets had a positive day on Monday, as the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 0.1 percent to 10,570.53, the S&P 500 ended the day with an increase of 0.2 percent to 1,221.79, and the Nasdaq index rose by 0.3 percent to 2,141.44.

The news was not good for everyone, however, as Merck continued its slide begun Friday with the announcement of a jury verdict against the company in the case of a man who died after taking their pain killer Vioxx. Merck dropped 0.6 percent to $27.89, bringing its two-day decline to nearly 8.3 percent.

In the semiconductor sector, Texas Instruments gained 2.5 percent to $31.95 and Intel added 1.6 percent to $26.06. Many of the gains on the day came in relation to news on mergers and acquisitions.

Canadian-owned oil producer PetroKazakhstan gained 18.4 percent to $53.75 after it accepted an offer by the China National Petroleum Corporation, which offered $55 per share for the company.

Shares in Evetech Pharmaceuticals gained 29.6 percent to $18.13 after OSI Pharmaceuticals agreed to purchase Evetech for around $935 million. The purchase didn’t help OSI, however, which saw its shares declined by 21.7 percent to $31.92.

The news that Maytag and Whirlpool had signed a formal agreement for Whirlpool to acquire Maytag did not help shares in those companies, either. Maytag lost 0.1 percent to $18.69 and Whirlpool declined by 0.4 percent to $81.48.

Wall Street saw little movement at all on Friday as both the Dow Jones
Industrial Average and the Nasdaq composite stayed all but unchanged on the day, and the S&P 500 saw only a slight gain.

The Dow closed flat at 10,559.23 as did the Nasdaq, ending the day at 2,136.73. The S&P gained 0.1 percent to close at 1,219.71. Over the week, all three indexes ended on the losing side, as the Dow fell by 0.4 percent, the Nasdaq dropped 1.0 percent, and the S&P declined by 0.9 percent.

Several sectors saw declines on the week. While computer maker Hewlett Packard saw a gain of 10.2 percent on the week to $26.49, others in the sector were not so successful. Gateway dropped 16.8 percent to $3.17, Dell lost 0.6 percent to $36.41, and Apple Computer declined by 0.6 percent as well, to $45.83.

Clothing retailers had a rough time of it as well. Gap lost 8.7 percent on the week, while Hot Topic fell 14.1 percent to $14.12. Both were down on disappointing quarterly reports. On the winning side, Six Flags was up by 18.8 percent to $6.45 on the week after its largest investor said that he wanted to triple his investment in the company.

The New York equities markets were mixed but generally lower on Thursday on light trade volumes and concerns about crude oil prices as one analyst said that since September 11, 2001, investors have had one thing after another to worry about.

At the close of the trading day, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was very close to its Wednesday close at 10,552.46, while the Nasdaq composite lost 0.4 percent to 2,135.99 and the S&P 500 settled down by 0.1 percent to 1,218.72.

One of the biggest gainers on the day was Six Flags, the amusement park operator, which gained 18 percent to $6.48 when it’s largest investor announced that he wanted to triple his amount of shares in the company.

While Google announced that it will issue 14.2 million shares of its class A stock for sale, said to be worth around $4 billion, the internet search company’s shares were down 1.8 percent on the day to $279.99.

In the retail clothing sector, meanwhile, J. Crew announced that it will launch an initial public offering to raise $200 million. Elsewhere in the sector, Gap released its quarterly earnings report. In response, its shares lost 1.6 percent to $20.15.

Hot Topic, which sells teenage clothing, cut its forecasts for the third and fourth quarters after falling short of expectations in the second quarter. It lost 10.6 percent on the day to close at $14.14.

New York equities markets were up at the end of the session on Wednesday, helped by good performance in the computer and chip making sector and falling oil prices.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.4 percent to 10,550.71, the Nasdaq composite also rose by 0.4 percent, to 2,145.15, and the S&P 500 was up by 0.1 percent to 1,220.24.

Hewlett-Packard gained 13.2 percent to $26.82 on news that the company has seen sales and profits rise above expectations under its new chief executive. HP’s performance helped other computer companies and chip makers to rally as well.

Dell was up 0.6 percent to $36.92, Apple gained 2 percent to $47.15, and Gateway was up 5.5 percent to $3.28 even though it announced on Monday that it was cutting its revenue and profits estimates for the full year.

Meanwhile, the fall in oil prices provided investors with a psychological, as one analyst commented, but didn’t do much good for the oil companies themselves. Chevron, for example, was down by 1.4 percent on the day to $59.84.

Fashion retailer Abercrombie & Fitch lost 3.9 percent to $58.85 on a quarterly earnings report that showed it had not reached analyst estimates. Merrill Lynch warned that retail stocks could fall well into September as high oil prices and rising interest rates affect consumer spending.

New York equities markets were down substantially on Tuesday, as the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1.14 percent to 10,513.45, the Nasdaq composite fell by 1.38 percent to 2,137.06, and the S&P 500 lost 1.18 percent to 1,219.34.

Shares in Wal-Mart were down by more than 3.3 percent at mid-afternoon to $47.50 on the news that while second quarter earnings had risen by 6 percent , the third-quarter outlook was not as good. The world’s largest retailer blamed this assessment on rising oil prices.

Elsewhere in the retail sector, Home Depot and Staples both reported much higher sales in the second quarter. Home Depot said it experienced a 20 percent rise in sales and a same-store sales increase of 4 percent. Office goods retailer Staples also said their sales were up 20 percent in the quarter, 1 percent better than analysts thought they would do. Still, shares in both companies were down. Home Depot lost 1.4 percent to $41.04, while Staples declined by 2.1 percent to $21.85.

In the airline sector, the Amex airline index gained 3.4 percent, its first increase after 11 straight declining sessions. Delta Air Lines gained 9.4 percent to $1.52, Northwest Airlines added 10.6 percent to $4.61, and SkyWest was up 11 percent to $24.46.

New York equities markets were up on Monday as the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the Nasdaq composite, and the S&P 500 all saw gains by the end of the day.

The Dow ended the day up 0.3 percent to 10,634.38, while the Nasdaq was up 0.5 percent to close at 2,167.04 and the S&P 500 gained 0.3 percent to 1,233.87. Oil prices that fell slightly helped the gains.

In the media sector, there were rumors that Dow Jones, the owner of the Wall Street Journal, might be for sale. Shares in Dow Jones were up by as much as 15 percent during the day, but closed lower than that but at a gain for the day of 11 percent to $41.14. Time Warner added 1.4 percent to $18.50 on the news that four investors are planning to pressure the company’s board of directors to buy back $20 billion in stock and spin off its cable business.

In the airlines sector, unconfirmed reports in the New York Times that Delta Air Lines was arranging financing for bankruptcy protection sent the air carrier’s stocks plummeting 13.7 percent.

In New York on Friday, the equities markets were down on the day as the felt the effect of crude oil prices that continue to climb as well as disappointing quarterly news from Dell.

The computer manufacturer released its quarterly earnings report after the close of trading on Thursday, saying that it missed predictions even though earnings were up to $0.41 per share, from $0.31 in the same quarter last year.

Shares in Dell were down 7.9 percent to $36.45 before the trading day began on Friday. Other computer makers were also down during the day, including Hewlett-Packard, which was down 1.5 percent in early-day trading to $23.83. Apple also lost ground during the day, losing 0.8 percent to $43.63.

By the end of the day, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.80 percent to 10,600,31, the Nasdaq composite had declined by 0.81 percent to 2,156.90, and the S&P 500 had dropped 0.60 percent to 1,230.39.

The New York equities markets ended the day higher on Thursday despite crude oil prices that hit record levels Thursday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended the day ahead by 0.9 percent at 10,685.89, the Nasdaq composite gained 0.8 percent to 2,174.55, and the S&P 500 was up 0.7 percent at 1,237.81.

The rise in oil prices didn’t help Delta Air Lines, which has been trying to avoid entering bankruptcy. Despite announcing that it will add larger aircraft on it’s New York to Boston and Washington shuttle routes, Delta lost 6.8 percent on the day to $1.79 amid expectations that it will file for bankruptcy soon.

Tivo fell 6.2 percent to $5.62 on the announcement by DirecTV Group that it will quit marketing Tivo digital video recorders this year and replace them with alternate technology from News Corp, which owns 34 percent of DirecTV. DirecTV’s shares fell slightly on the news, to $16.18.

News Corp itself gained 3.4 percent on the day to $18.03 after it announced a jump of 67 percent in its quarterly profits. Yahoo gained 2.2 percent to $34.94 after it said it would pay $1 billion in cash and trade its operations in China in exchange for 40 percent of Alibaba.com, the second-biggest internet auctioneer in China.

Semiconductor manufacturer Intel dropped 0.2 percent on a downgrade to “in-line” by Goldman Sachs.

The New York equities markets were down on Wednesday on soaring crude oil prices, the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hike on Tuesday, and on stocks that lost from gains in Tuesday’s trade.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined by 0.2 percent to 10,594.49, the Nasdaq composite was down 0.8 percent to 2,157.81, and the S&P 500 lost 0.2 percent to 1,229.18.

Among gainers Tuesday that lost share value on Wednesday were Cisco Systems and Walt Disney. Cisco Systems was down 6.9 percent to $18.25, while Walt Disney declined by 2.6 percent to $25.47.

Analysts think that more interest rate hikes and continuing gains in crude oil prices will tend to drag down the equities markets.

One analyst was quoted as saying that as higher crude oil prices translate into higher prices to consumers, inflation will rise and the markets will feel that rise.

Among others gainers and losers on the day, mortgage group Fannie Mae lost 3.8 percent to $52.70 when it announced that it had missed its deadline to file its quarterly earnings report with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Radio stations owner Clear Channel gained 0.5 percent to $33.92 on the news that it would spin off its billboard advertising business in an initial public offering that could be worth as much as $350 million. It also said that it would spin off its live entertainment business.

Meanwhile, Maytag gained 1.9 percent to $19 and Whirlpool lost 1.8 percent to $81.53 when Whirlpool again raised its bid for Maytag, by another $1 to $21 per share.

Investors on the New York equities markets didn’t seem bothered by the rise in interest rates introduced by the Federal Reserve on Tuesday.

This attitude, along with slightly lower crude oil prices and a report that labor costs in the US were being held to reasonable levels, helped the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the Nasdaq composite, and the S&P 500 to gains on the day.

The Dow closed up by 0.8 percent to 10, 615.67, the Nasdaq added 0.4 percent to 2,174.19, and the S&P was up 0.7 percent to 1,231.39.

Delta Air Lines had a bad day when Merrill Lynch issued a warning that climbing oil prices could be the factor that tips Delta into bankruptcy. Delta lost 12.6 percent on the day to close at $1.95.

Video and games rental company Blockbuster didn’t have an especially good day either after it reported quarterly losses that more than doubled expectations after trying to challenge competitor Netflix in the online-order DVD rental market. Blockbuster fell 11.5 percent on the day to $7.09, 75 percent lower than its highest price of $29.51, reached in May 2002. Netflix, meanwhile, saw a gain of 1.9 percent on the day to $21.34.

Cisco Systems, the internet equipment maker, did better, gaining 1.9 percent to $19.61 on anticipation of a good quarterly report which was due to be released after the close of trade.

Walt Disney, which was also set to report after trade closed on Tuesday, was up by 2.9 percent to $26.14.

In New York on Monday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the Nasdaq composite, and the S&P 500 were all down on the day as investors awaited word on whether the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates again this month as expected.

The Dow lost 0.2 percent to close at 10,536.93, the Nasdaq fell 0.6 percent to 2,164.39, and the S&P declined by 0.3 percent to end the day at 1,223.13.

Several reports and rumors of bids and mergers also captured the attention of investors.

Kerr-McGee, the oil and gas company, gained 3.7 percent to $85.01 on the news that it had agreed to let Moller-Maersk purchase its oil interests in the North Sea for $3.5 billion.

E*Trade announced it would buy the online brokerage operations of Harrisdirect, sending shares in E*Trade up 8.3 percent to $16.10. The purchase will cost E*Trade $700 million.

Whirlpool upped its bid for Maytag by $2 to $20 per share. Maytag was up 9.4 percent to $18.58 on the news, and Whirlpool gained 3.5 percent to $82.40.

Department store group Saks saw its shares go up on a report in Women’s Wear Daily that Bon-Ton Stores and Cerberus Capital Management might spend up to $4.2 billion to purchase Saks. Shares in Saks gained 9.1 percent to $22.10 on the strength of the report.

The New York stock markets were down on Thursday on profit-taking and on reports that retail sales in the United States were generally down in July.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.8 percent to 10,610.10, the Nasdaq composite index was down 1.2 percent to 2,191.32, and the S&P 500 lost 0.7 percent to 1,235.86.

In the retail sector, Wal-Mart was down 0.8 percent to $49.29 even though same-store sales were up by 4.4 percent in July.

The Gap was down 1.2 percent to $20.69, Limited Brands fell 2.7 percent to $24.35, and Nordstrom, which has gained nearly 70 percent in the past year, declined by 8.2 percent to $33.45.

The Gap, Limited Brands, and Nordstrom all reported lower-than-expected sales in the second quarter. The retail sector as a whole was down 2.2 percent on these results for the worst performance in a sector on the day.

Elsewhere, HSBC Holdings agreed to buy credit card company Metris, sending shares in both companies down on the day. HSBC Holdings fell 0.8 percent to $81.90, while Metris lost 2.6 percent to $14.46.