Wall Street heads for higher open as investors await jobs data, retail sales reports

September 24th, 2009 Stock futures steady ahead of jobs, housing dataNEW YORK — Stock futures are little changed as investors wait for more clues on how the economy is faring. The quiet trading Thursday follows declines in markets overseas that came after the Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged and said the pace of economic activity has improved.

September 3rd, 2009 Stock futures up ahead of jobs, retail sales dataNEW YORK — U.S. stock futures are pointing to a higher opening Thursday as investors await reports on two of the economy's biggest problem areas: jobs and consumer spending.

September 3rd, 2009 Stocks move higher after jobs data, retail salesNEW YORK — Stocks moved higher in early trading Thursday, breaking a four-day losing streak after the latest reading on the jobs market and mixed retail sales reports. The moderate gains in stocks came as the Labor Department said the number of people filing for unemployment claims fell last week by 4,000 to 570,000.

August 13th, 2009 Stocks creep higher after jobs, retail dataNEW YORK — Stocks are pushing moderately higher after a better-than-expected earnings report from Wal-Mart helped to offset disappointing data on jobs and retail sales. Investors are hesitantly adding to Wednesday' big gains, which came after upbeat comments from the Federal Reserve.

August 13th, 2009 Stocks edge lower after jobs, retail dataNEW YORK — Stocks turned lower in early trading Thursday as disappointing reports on jobs and retail sales deflated some of investors' optimism about the economy. Investors sent the major indexes slightly higher at the opening, but stocks failed to hold on to the gains and extend Wednesday's big rally, which followed upbeat comments from the Federal Reserve.

August 6th, 2009 Futures mixed ahead of jobs, retail sales reportsNEW YORK — U.S. stock futures are mixed in a narrow range as investors refrain from making big bets ahead of reports on retail sales and the labor market.

June 29th, 2009 Stocks open higher ahead of week's key dataNEW YORK — Investors are beginning a holiday-shortened week on a positive note. Stocks are slightly higher in early trading Monday, following mixed moves in overseas markets.

June 3rd, 2009 Wall Street heads for lower open after advanceNEW YORK — Wall Street headed for a lower open Wednesday amid worries about the labor market and the overall health of the economy. U.S. stock futures also reflected the uncertainty in overseas markets, where buying was subdued by concerns over the sustainability of a four-month rally.

May 13th, 2009 Wall Street opens lower on weak retail salesNEW YORK — Wall Street fell sharply in early trading Wednesday after the government reported weaker-than-expected retail sales in April. The market has put a two-month rally on hold amid concern that an economic recovery won't come as fast as once hoped.

May 13th, 2009 Weak retail sales send stocks lower; Dow off 170NEW YORK — Wall Street is falling sharply after the government reported weaker-than-expected retail sales in April. The market is putting a two-month rally on hold amid concern that an economic recovery won't come as fast as hoped.

May 12th, 2009 Wall Street rises moderately after sell-offNEW YORK — Wall Street is rebounding moderately in early trading as investors look for the next catalyst to extend a two-month rally. With little economic data and few earnings reports due, investors likely will shift their attention to the government's report on retail sales later in the week, and retailers' first-quarter earnings figures.

May 8th, 2009 Futures rise on jobless claims, retail sales dataNEW YORK — Wall Street bounded toward a higher open Thursday as investors got pleasant surprises from the job market and major retailers. Government data showed that new claims for jobless benefits unexpectedly dropped last week to their lowest level since January.

May 8th, 2009 Wall Street opens higher open after jobs dataNEW YORK — Stocks soared in early trading Friday as Wall Street cheered the positive news it had been hoping for: job losses slowed in April and big banks don't need as much capital as feared. The Labor Department said employers cut 539,000 jobs last month, the fewest in six months and much less than the 620,000 job losses analysts expected.

May 5th, 2009 Wall Street appears ready to extend big gainsNEW YORK — U.S. stock futures are edging higher as investors await a reading on the services sector and a bevy of earnings reports for further confirmation that the economy is improving.

April 24th, 2009 Stocks signal flat open as focus turns to banksNEW YORK — Stock futures are little changed as investors await details on how the government is evaluating the health of the nation's largest banks. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner is expected on Friday to outline the methodology for the "stress tests" that regulators have given to 19 of the largest U.S.