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Source: http://finance.yahoo.com

* the biz.yahoo article link below can be accessed from the finance.yahoo link above under heading "Top Financial News"

The NYSE DOW closed LOWER by 61 points on Monday September 24:

Sym Last........ ........Change..........

Dow    13,759.06    -61.13    -0.44%

-- Day's Range:    13750.93 - 13874.41 & 52wk Range:    11,423.60 - 14,121.00

Nasdaq    2,667.95    -3.27    -0.12%

-- Day's Range:    2660.52 - 2692.16 & 52wk Range:    2,210.13 - 2,724.74

S&P 500    1,517.73    -8.02    -0.53%

-- Day's Range:    1516.15 - 1530.18 & 52wk Range:    1,310.94 - 1,555.90

30-yr Bond    4.8770%    -0.0140

NYSE Volume    3,131,313,000

Nasdaq Volume    1,924,463,000

In European trading,

Britain's FTSE 100 rose 0.14 percent, Germany's DAX index fell 0.08 percent, and France's CAC-40 shed 0.14 percent. 

In Asia, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose 2.74 percent. Japan's market was closed for a holiday.

Super gains as resource shares soar

http://www.theage.com.au/news/business/super-gains-as-resource-shares-soar/2007/09/24/1190486224929.html

Marc Moncrief and Vanessa Burrow

September 25, 2007

AUSTRALIAN shares have returned to record highs after last month's bronco ride, and superannuation funds are back to counting gains.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index, the most-watched index of Australian shares, climbed 1.5 per cent to 6451.5 points yesterday as the price of resource stocks ballooned.

The market raced past its July 24 record close of 6422.3 points, a milestone reached just days before credit troubles in the US hit Australian shares.

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070924/wall_street.html?.v=20

Stocks Give Up Early Gains to End Lower

Monday September 24, 6:24 pm ET

By Joe Bel Bruno, AP Business Writer

Stocks Finish Lower As Wall Street Gives Up Early Gains Amid Concerns About Credit

NEW YORK (AP) -- Wall Street retreated Monday, taking a break from last week's big advances, as financial stocks fell amid fresh concerns about tightness in the credit markets. With little fresh data to go on Monday, investor enthusiasm weakened by midsession. Sectors from banks to homebuilders showed declines, while technology stocks fared better.

Investors worried that the credit markets might not loosen up despite last week's half-point rate cut by the Federal Reserve. Stocks began to give up their gains after the International Monetary Fund warned the credit upheaval hurting international financial markets would likely be "protracted" and dampen growth of the global economy. The financial sector also weakened after Reuters reported that Deutsche Bank might have to write down a portion of its loan portfolio.

While its stock didn't fall sharply, General Motors Corp. shares lost ground after the United Auto Workers began its first nationwide strike during auto contract negotiations since 1976.

In addition, the stock market's pullback might have been expected following gains last week of more than 2.5 percent in the major stock market averages.

"I think you're seeing some profit taking after last week's rally," said Scott Fullman, director of investment strategy at Israel A. Englander & Co. "You have consumer confidence that is something being closely watched, and you're seeing a general end of quarter nervousness."

The Dow Jones industrials fell 61.13, or 0.44 percent, to 13,759.06.

Broader indicators fell, with the Standard & Poor's 500 index declining 8.02, or 0.53 percent, to 1,517.73, while the Nasdaq composite index lost 3.27, or 0.12 percent, to 2,667.95.

Bonds edged higher, with the yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note falling to 4.62 percent from 4.63 percent late Friday. Treasury prices have fallen since last week's rate cut as investors moved back into stocks.

The dollar fell against major currencies, hitting a fresh low against the euro, and gold prices rose.

Oil prices fell as a tropical depression in the Gulf of Mexico dissipated without causing damage to key oil and gas infrastructure. A barrel of light, sweet crude settled down 67 cents at $80.95 on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

There were no major economic reports Monday. However, Dallas Fed President Richard Fisher said a downturn in inflation gives policy makers "some wiggle room" to further cut interest rates. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke gave a speech on education but did not touch upon economic issues.

Economic data expected to roll out this week could give investors a better sense of whether to expect more of the interest rate cuts that touched off last week's rally. Findings due Tuesday include reports on existing home sales for August and the Richmond Fed's regional survey. Many investors hope readings on durable goods and consumer spending later this week will give the Fed room to cut rates still further when it meets next month.

Among financial stocks, Citigroup Inc. fell 92 cents to $46.59 while JPMorgan Chase & Co. declined 79 cents to $46.34 following the IMF concerns about prolonged tightness in the credit markets and its contention that regulators should tighten their oversight of financial institutions to reign in some of the newer debt products that have in part allowed easy access to credit in recent years.

Housing stocks fell sharply ahead of the data on existing home sales and a report on quarterly results from Lennar Corp. Lennar fell $1.14, or 4.5 percent, to $24.18, while Pulte Homes Inc. ended down $1.06, or 6.6 percent, to $15.10, and D.R. Horton Inc. fell 54 cents, or 3.8 percent, to $13.56.

In corporate news, GM fell 20 cents to $34.74 after thousands of UAW workers walked off the job as negotiations between the union and the automaker remained stymied -- mainly over the issue of job security.

Ford Motor Co. shares rose 25 cents, or 3 percent, to $8.48 after Chief Executive Alan Mullaly said the automaker is in talks with potential buyers of the company's Jaguar and Land Rover brands. The company also began operations of its newest joint-venture factory in China, where it will produce both the Ford and Mazda brands.

Dell Inc. rose 11 cents to $27.87 after it announced it would set up a retail presence in China by selling computers through the country's biggest chain of electronics stores. The deal extends Dell's strategy of expanding beyond its traditional Internet-and-phone sales model into retail to better compete with rivals.

The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 7.31, or 0.90 percent, 805.80.

Declining issues beat out advancers 5-to-3 on the New York Stock Exchange. Consolidated volume came to 3.12 billion shares, down from 3.67 billion shares Friday.

In European trading, Britain's FTSE 100 rose 0.14 percent, Germany's DAX index fell 0.08 percent, and France's CAC-40 shed 0.14 percent. In Asia, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose 2.74 percent. Japan's market was closed for a holiday.

New York Stock Exchange: http://www.nyse.com

Nasdaq Stock Market: http://www.nasdaq.com