Thursday

U.S. blue-chip stocks rose today, but other measures lagged behind as risk-averse investors dumped materials and technology shares. Stocks seesawed for much of the session as batches of mixed economic data and fraying nerves over the Greek-debt situation competed for investors' attention. Reports that U.S. home construction rose modestly in May and initial jobless claims dropped more than expected cheered investors early in the session. But stocks briefly turned negative mid-morning following a discouraging reading on mid-Atlantic manufacturing activity. DJIA +64.25 Nasdaq -7.76 S&P 500 +2.22.

Wednesday

U.S. stocks tumbled as fears of contagion around a Greek default picked up, adding more pessimism to a foreboding mix of U.S. economic data. Greek fears intensified after euro-zone officials failed to make progress on discussions about Greek aid and protests against austerity measures turned violent in Athens. Also driving stocks lower were more gloomy snapshots on the domestic economy. A reading of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's Empire State Manufacturing Survey fell below zero for the first time since last November, dropping 20 points from May. Meanwhile core inflation last month posted its biggest gain in nearly 3 years. DJIA -178.84 Nasdaq -47.26 S&P 500 -22.45.

Tuesday

U.S. stocks rose sharply, aided by a strong industrial production report from China and a reading on U.S. retail sales that wasn't as bad as economists had expected. Home Depot led the blue-chip index higher, advancing 3.8%, while Caterpillar rose 2.5%, and Boeing gained 2.8%. Investor sentiment turned more cheerful after the Commerce Department said U.S. retail sales dropped only .2% last month, smaller than the .6% decline economists had expected. At the same time, a strong industrial production report from China suggests that the world's No. 2 economy is still robust, despite a tighter monetary policy aimed at curbing inflation. DJIA +123.14 Nasdaq +39.03 S&P 500 +16.04.

Monday

Sharp losses for the energy sector erased much of the morning gains for U.S. stocks, as worries of weaker U.S. energy demand sapped the optimism following today's corporate buyouts. Chevron fell 1.2% and Exxon Mobil declined .7% as the price of oil slid below $97 per barrel. Traders said high inventory and a weak U.S. demand outlook spurred a midday oil selloff. Traders also said jitters over the health of the U.S. economy that have dominated market action for weeks continued today, even though a burst of deal-making helped set a more positive tone early in the session. DJIA +1.06 Nasdaq -4.04 S&P 500 +.85.

Friday

Another dose of anguish about the global economic recovery sent the Dow Jones Industrial Average to the first close below 12000 since mid-March, capping the blue-chip index's longest weekly slump since 2002. This marks the Dow's sixth straight week of declines. Investors were glum after U.S. May import prices showed a surprise gain of .2%, hinting at an inflation push coming into the U.S. from abroad. DJIA -172.45 Nasdaq -41.14 S&P 500 -18.02.