
A look at highlights from the day's business news:
Dow tumbles 126, but clings to 11,000
Stocks tumbled Friday, with the Dow industrials skidding to end just above 11,000, as financial shares tumbled after U.S. regulators charged Goldman Sachs with defrauding investors.
The news overshadowed strong quarterly results from Google, General Electric and Bank of America.
The Dow Jones industrial average lost 126 points, or 1.1 percent, to finish at 11,018. The indicator fell as much as 170 points earlier, dropping below 11,000, a key psychological level. The Dow ended at an 18-month high on Thursday.
The S&P 500 index lost 19 points, or 1.6 percent, and the Nasdaq composite lost 34 points, or 1.4 percent. The S&P 500 ended at an 18-month high Thursday, while the Nasdaq composite ended at a 22-month high.
Despite Friday's losses, the Dow and Nasdaq ended up for the week. The S&P was slightly lower.
Oil prices plummet
Oil prices retreated Friday as fraud charges against Goldman Sachs shook the markets and concerns about the Greek bailout plan sent the dollar higher against the euro.
What prices are doing: Crude oil for May delivery plummeted, dropping $2.27, or nearly 3 percent, to settle at $83.24 a barrel. This was the highest single-day decline since February 5.
Although May crude oil contracts don't expire until April 20, volume has ratcheted up in crude for June delivery. Prices for that contract settled at $84.51, down $2.24 on the day.
Prices soared midweek after the U.S. government reported the first decline in crude supplies in 10 weeks, and a round of economic data showed strong improvement in retail sales and low inflation.
What's moving the market: Prices fell after the SEC charged investment bank Goldman Sachs with fraud and concerns about Greece's financial stability resurfaced.
Treasurys rally on Goldman charges
Treasurys rallied Friday on news Goldman Sachs has been charged with fraud by Securities and Exchange Commission
What prices are doing: The benchmark 10-year note rose 17/32 to 98-26/32, pushing the yield down to 3.77 percent. The 30-year bond rose 19/32 to 98-5/32, and its yield fell to 4.68 percent.
Bond prices and yields move in opposite directions.
The 2-year note edged up 4/32 to 100-3/32 with a 1 percent yield. The 5-year note rose 12/32 to 100-5/32 with a yield of 2.47 percent.
What's moving the market: On Friday, the SEC charged Goldman Sachs with fraud related to how it sold securities tied to subprime mortgages.
The news sent stocks tumbling, particularly financial firms, and pushed the demand for U.S. bonds higher.
Dollar surges on Goldman fraud charge
The dollar rose against the euro and the pound Friday after the Securities and Exchange Commission charged Goldman Sachs for defrauding investors and amid ongoing concerns about Greek debt.
The dollar was up 0.5 percent versus the euro to $1.3507 and gained 0.7 percent against the U.K. pound to $1.5383. Against the Japanese yen, the dollar was down 1 percent to ¥92.11.
Investors flocked to the dollar for its safe have appeal after the SEC alleged that Goldman Sachs, a Wall Street behemoth, and its vice president Fabrice Tourre, failed to disclose information to investors in a sale of securities tied to subprime mortgages.
CNNMoney.com reporters Ben Rooney, Annalyn Censky, Chavon Sutton and Alexandra Twin contributed to this report.


soundoff (No Responses)