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Wall Street hung on to Monday’s gains but remains nervous ahead of the stress test results. Dow down 16. (Locked for subscribers until 10:00 AEST)

The S&P 500 turned positive for 2009 last night as healthy economic data fuelled further optimism. Dow up 200. (Locked for subscribers until 10:00)

According to Westpac Bank while consumer sentiment in the US remains weak it is recovering, but not quickly enough to suggest any sharp improvement in the US economy.

Weekly musings from your editor. Have we seen the bottom yet?

It was a rocky day of trading, but one thing was clear, investors weren’t ready just yet to abandon this bear market rally in order to sell in May and then go away.

The S&P 500 finished up 9.4% for the month. Dow down 17 on the night.

Wall Street shook off an ugly GDP and clutched on to the Fed statement last night. Dow up 170.

Wall Street netted out the good news and bad news last night to end up going nowhere.

Wall Street was reluctant to cast its pearls last night in a quiet and uncertain session. Dow down 50.

As Western economies struggle with the GFC, China is emerging to challenge US hegemony faster than even China may have thought possible.