With the US economic expansion getting longer and longer, nervous investors are pouring money into funds tracking the investment factor known as “quality”. It’s a category whose composition has changed.

Let’s recap the travesty that has unfolded over the past couple of days.

US investors avoided another rollercoaster day on Wall Street. What they got instead was a steady, moderate decline that left the market with its worst weekly performance since May 2012.

A REUTERS examination of accounts for hundreds of subsidiaries of the biggest US technology companies shows most do not declare a tax residence for their main business in the biggest European markets.

The EU’s main mobile phone producers are to introduce a universal charger later this year.

BILL GATES paid tribute yesterday to the developer of an early personal computer which inspired him to found Microsoft.

Bill Gates paid tribute today to the developer of an early personal computer which inspired him to found Microsoft.

Europe’s mass of different mobile phone chargers will be replaced next year by one type, following an industry agreement signed with the European Commission today.

Wall Street tumbled again today as investors worried that the global economy was poised to weaken even as parts of the credit market slowly showed signs of recovery.

Wall Street rebounded today, rising moderately as crude oil surged more than two dollars a barrel and triggered a rally among energy producers.

Wall Street stumbled lower today as growing concerns over technology companies led jittery investors to pull money out of the market ahead of this week’s earnings reports.

Wall Street finished its worst week of the year with a moderate decline today as persistent unease over inflation and interest rates kept investors nervous about buying.

The UK firm whose chips appear in more than half of all Bluetooth headsets and devices delighted investors today by admitting it had under-estimated demand for the wireless technology.

The battle to bring mobile TV to a phone in your pocket is hotting up.

VENTURE capital firm ACT has splashed out €10 million to take a stake in Dublin-based Silicon & Software Systems (S3), a specialist in advanced software for use in microchips and mobile phones.

Stocks extended their losses into a second day today after a cautious outlook from home builder Toll Brothers Inc. and a surge in energy prices rattled investors.

Wall Street closed lower in profit-taking today after the previous session’s big gain, though the market held on reasonably well despite a surprising drop in consumer confidence and a disappointing forecast from Texas Instruments Inc.

Wall Street advanced solidly today to finish the week higher as oil prices cooled and investors embraced signs that the economy could move forward despite Hurricane Katrina’s devastation of the Gulf Coast.

Stocks slumped in the United States today as the Bush administration said the country’s economy would likely grow at a slower pace than forecast six months ago – an assessment that eclipsed positive corporate news and lower oil prices.

Wall Street showed some resilience today, closing mixed even as oil prices settled at a new high and raised more concerns about inflation.

Profit-taking sent stocks modestly lower in the United States today after oil prices topped US$55 (€41.21) a barrel and a disappointing earnings update from Texas Instruments Inc cast fresh doubts on the tech sector.

A cautious stock market finished the session mixed in the US today as a troubling top-level management shake-up at Boeing Co pressured blue chips, while technology shares saw strong buying.

US stocks managed to extend their gains into a second session today as a bright outlook from Oracle and better-than-expected results from chipmaker Texas Instruments lifted the technology sector.

A healthy start to the session on Wall Street helped to keep the London market in the black today.

Top flight shares remained in poor shape in London today as investors booked profits after a downbeat session in New York.

Stocks edged higher atoday as another drop in oil prices helped Wall Street withstand the effects of a disappointing jobs creation report. The major indexes achieved a second straight week of gains.

Stocks slumped today as oil prices inched back up from earlier lows and an investigation of the insurance industry pressured managed care stocks, trumping better-than-expected earnings from IBM and Texas Instruments.

A sharp decline in oil prices and a surprise drop in wholesale prices pushed stocks higher on Wall Street today as investors’ concerns about third quarter earnings were mitigated.

US stocks were mixed today as investor enthusiasm over a sharp drop in initial unemployment claims was offset by rising oil prices.

Wall Street welcomed a surprisingly forthright statement on interest rates from Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan today, with investors sending stocks higher in acceptance of his tough stand on energy prices and inflation.

Wall Street had an indecisive session today, closing mixed as better-than-expected earnings from Apple Computer and Citigroup were again eclipsed by investors’ growing anxiety over interest rates.

Nervous US investors sent stocks skidding today as a terrorist attack in Madrid overshadowed mostly good economic news and bullish forecasts from several companies.

Fears over a lack of job growth and a sluggish US economy sent stocks sharply lower today, with the Nasdaq composite index wiping out its gains for all of 2004 and the Dow Jones industrial average nearly following suit.

The Dow Jones industrials broke through the 10,000 barrier for all of one minute today, reaching a significant milestone in Wall Street’s remarkable recovery from the bear market before retreating on profit-taking.

Investors retreated modestly on Wall Street today, collecting profits after a six-day advance in the Dow Jones industrials.

Prospects of a lower opening in the United States kept investors in London on their guard today.

Wall Street had a moderate rebound today as strong earnings from 3M and Citigroup helped investors overcome their disappointment in the latest Index of Leading Economic Indicators.

JACK DANIEL, an editor of papers for publications such as the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, spent $1,300 on a computer with an Intel chip to replace a three-year-old machine he said was too slow.

New worries about terrorism and another disappointing tech outlook sent US stocks falling sharply for a second straight session today, with technology stocks and the Nasdaq composite index bearing the brunt of the selling.

Wall Street snapped a five-day losing streak today, sending stocks modestly higher after positive earnings from companies such as Texas Instruments enticed investors to pick up bargains.

Wall Street managed a modest advance today, rising for a fourth time in five days as investors balanced a mixed economic assessment from the Federal Reserve against disappointing earnings from Eli Lilly.

European markets fell by between one and 1.5% yesterday.

US stocks closed lower overnight, ending a three-session winning streak after a profit warning from semiconductor maker Texas Instruments chipped away at investor enthusiasm.

THE London market ended a quiet session slightly lower yesterday as sharp falls from oil shares weighed on trading.

A surge on Wall Street last night failed to inspire trading across the London market this morning.

Share prices were higher in choppy trade as defensive buying in the pharmaceutical sector, gains among technology stocks and tobacco companies helped offset a weak retail sector after Sears issued a third-quarter profit warning, dealers said.

Shares in technology companies were slightly lower in midsession trade on profit-taking following three days of solid gains, dealers said.

Another dose of disappointing economic news sent the Dow industrials down nearly 270 points.

The US government has set a deadline of August 14 for many of the nation’s largest companies to submit sworn statements from their chief executive and chief financial officers guaranteeing the accuracy of recent financial reports, in an unprecedented move to help restore investor confidence.

Wall Street staggered through another volatile session today, with the Dow Jones industrials bouncing between gains and losses before surrendering in late afternoon and closing with their fourth straight loss.