The Dow Jones industrial average closed above 16,000 for the first time today as encouraging news on the job market pushed stocks higher.

Bill Gross, manager of the world’s biggest bond fund, said the Federal Reserve is unlikely to slow stimulus and lift its target rate for overnight loans between banks until 2016 with employment growth insufficient.

Stock markets reclaimed some ground but the euro fell on speculation Spain could move toward a debt rescue and the ECB would launch a new bond-buying plan.

A surge in hiring last month got a big welcome on Wall Street today.

The rate of unemployment in the US fell for the fourth straight month in Decemberm, while job creation also had a boost.

London’s leading shares index fell 4.5% today – the 12th biggest points fall in its history – amid fears the world is sliding into a double dip recession.

The biggest corporate hiring spree in five years ended a week-long slide in the stock market.

Washington: The US economy added more jobs than forecast in March and the unemployment rate unexpectedly declined to |a two-year low of 8.8%, a sign the labour-market recovery is gathering speed.

Washington: Employers added fewer jobs than forecast in November and the unemployment rate unexpectedly increased, underscoring the Federal Reserve’s decision to pump more money into the economy to spur growth.

An unexpected rise in new claims for unemployment benefit pushed Wall Street stocks slightly lower today as investors remained worried about a lack of hiring.

New York: Manhattan apartment sales doubled in the first quarter this year as bargain-hunting buyers scooped up co-ops and condos in a market where resale prices have fallen by an average 29% since their peak.

Washington: US employment increased in March by the most in three years and the unemployment rate held at 9.7% as companies gained confidence that economic recovery will be sustained.

Investors are now used to bad news, but monthly lay-offs topping 600,000 still made for a volatile day on Wall Street.

Stock prices pared earlier gains to end a choppy day relatively flat today as Wall Street remained uncertain that a 17.4 billion-dollar(€12.5 billion) lifeline for US carmakers will make a lasting difference for the beleaguered industry.

Wall Street extended its losses today as a negative ratings outlook on financial and industrial powerhouse General Electric Co shook an already fragile investor psyche and sent stocks tumbling.

America’s jobless total was hit by the biggest rise in 34 years last month, figures out today show.

A period of relative calm on Wall Street ended today as stocks tumbled in the final hour of trading on growing investor anxiety about the government’s November employment report.

Wall Street withstood another stream of bad economic readings today, closing sharply higher as investors shuttled between pessimism about the recession and hopes that the nation might start seeing relief soon. The major indexes saw big swings throughout the day, but all closed up more than 2%, giving the market its second straight advance.

Wall Street launched a massive rebound today, muscling the Dow Jones industrial average up nearly 553 points after driving it down near its lows for the year, as investors decided they did not want to miss out on cheap stocks.

Wall Street turned in another stunning finish today and extended its unprecedented streak of volatility - this time, to the upside - as investors spent a fractious session again struggling with fears about a recession but giving in to a last-hour wave of buying.

Stocks reversed a steep sell-off to end mostly higher today as fears about a worrying jobs report gave way to bargain-hunting in sectors like financials and consumer staples.

Wall Street rebounded today, rising sharply as oil prices fell and investors took advantage of bargains in financial stocks after two straight days of heavy declines.

Wall Street soared higher today, extending its rally into a second session as tumbling energy prices bolstered an already upbeat mood which followed stronger-than-expected quarterly reports from big names like JPMorgan Chase and United Technologies.

Wall Street ended an arduous first half quietly with stocks showing mostly modest declines.

US stocks managed to notch a modest gain today, with Wall Street cautious ahead of tomorrow’s jobs report but hopeful that the global financial system is on the mend.

Wall Street managed a moderate gain in an erratic session as investors sorted through a downbeat Federal Reserve assessment of the economy and were also disappointed by a plan to bail out troubled bond insurer Ambac Financial Group Inc.

US stocks slumped today as investors fretted over a rise in unemployment claims and the prospect of more bank failures.

US stocks came off early losses to finish higher today as investors seemed to absorb unpleasant signals about the economy with equanimity and draw comfort from the notion that the Federal Reserve did not appear overly concerned about inflation.

Wall Street retreated today after Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke predicted a “sluggish” economy until later in the year and more mortgage-related losses at banks. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 175 points.

Wall Street wilted today as investors awaiting next week’s Federal Reserve meeting remained uneasy that fallout from the slumping housing market could bring more bank losses and pull the economy into recession.

Wall Street pared its losses to finish flat today but remained uneasy after disappointing results from Bank of America Corp provided further evidence that the credit crisis is hurting the economy.

Wall Street closed out a bumpy week with a moderate advance today as tech stocks charged higher on takeover news and other sectors gained on data that indicated the US economy is expanding at a healthy pace. The major indexes managed to post gains for the week.

Wall Street finished a quiet session modestly higher today as Wall Street awaited the government’s September employment report, hoping it will strike a balance between steady growth and more room for interest rate cuts.

US stocks rose sharply today, led by strong gains among the blue chips and mortgage lender Countrywide Financial Corp., which said it had lined up added financing.

Wall Street shook off early uncertainty to close moderately higher today as a series of mixed economic reports managed to make investors more optimistic about the chances for an interest rate cut.

Stocks in the US finished a back-and-forth session mixed today as investors grappled with weaker-than-expected economic data and weighed the chances of the Federal Reserve lowering interest rates.

Wall Street rose moderately today, carving out its fourth straight weekly gain amid a fresh round of corporate takeover news and employment figures that largely met expectations.

US stocks finished mixed today after consumer prices showed a larger-than-expected increase in January and minutes from the Federal Reserve’s last meeting showed the central bank considered but decided against taking a more dovish tone on the threat of inflation.

The Dow Jones industrial average reached another record close today as investors largely looked past economic and earnings reports that had stirred concerns about the health of the US economy.

American stocks slipped today as investors awaited the US Labor Department’s jobs report and reacted to Yahoo Inc.’s announcement of its biggest management shake-up in more than five years.

Wall Street’s attempt at a rally fizzled out today, with the major indexes rising in response to a Middle East ceasefire and then giving up most of their gains later in the day.

A corporate profit warning and record oil prices overshadowed a benign jobs creation report and sent stocks sharply lower in the United States today.

Mild economic data gave Wall Street a moderate gain today as stocks survived a round of profit-taking ahead of the Labor Department’s June employment report. A favourable court ruling for Altria Group Inc lifted the Dow Jones industrials.

Concerns over North Korea’s nuclear ambitions and record oil prices sent stocks lower today and added to Wall Street’s worries about the economy and interest rates.