Markets Right Now: Stocks erase most of an early plunge

→ Secret Bull Market Starts in This Unusual Sector (From Altimetry) (Ad)

NEW YORK (AP) — The latest on developments in financial markets (all times local):

4 p.m.

Stocks clawed back nearly all of an early plunge but still ended slightly lower on Wall Street, a day after the market's biggest gain in six months.

Trading remained choppy Wednesday, with sharp drops for IBM and other technology stocks offsetting gains in banks and other financial companies.

Get IBM alerts:

IBM plunged 7.6 percent after reporting weak revenue figures for its latest quarter.

Netflix jumped 5.3 percent after announcing big subscriber gains, and homebuilders sank after the Commerce Department said construction of new homes dropped in September.

The S&P 500 index fell less than 1 point to 2,809.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average gave up 91 points, or 0.4 percent, to 25,706. It was down as much as 319 earlier.

The Nasdaq composite slipped 2 points to 7,642.

___

11:45 a.m.

Stocks are modestly lower in midday trading on Wall Street after recovering much of an early slump.

A big loss for IBM pulled down the Dow Jones Industrial Average Wednesday, but broader market indexes weren't down as much. IBM reported weak revenue in its latest quarter.

The wobbly trading came a day after the market had its biggest gain in more than six months.

Homebuilders sank after the Commerce Department said construction of new homes dropped in September.

Netflix jumped 4.7 percent after it announced big subscriber gains.

The S&P 500 index fell 6 points, or 0.2 percent, to 2,803.

The Dow lost 103 points, or 0.4 percent, to 25,695. It was down as much as 319 earlier.

The Nasdaq composite gave up 25 points, or 0.3 percent, to 7,620.

Ad Altimetry

Secret Bull Market Starts in This Unusual Sector

"We're only at the very beginning of a new wave that could deliver 500%-plus gains in the years to come." In fact, 50 small companies related to this sector have already soared 100% or more in a recent 90-day stretch.

Click for my No. 1 investment, all free of charge, click here.

___

9:35 a.m.

U.S. stocks are opening mostly lower on Wall Street as losses for technology companies and banks weigh on the market.

IBM slumped 7.6 percent in early trading Wednesday after reporting revenue for the latest quarter that came in below analysts' forecasts.

Banks were also lower. Bank of America slipped 1 percent.

Netflix soared 5.8 percent after reporting solid subscriber gains.

Stocks are coming off their biggest gain in six months.

The S&P 500 index fell 7 points, or 0.3 percent, to 2,802.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 170 points, or 0.7 percent, to 25,627. The Nasdaq composite gave up 34 points, or 0.5 percent, to 7,610.

Bond prices were little changed. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note held steady at 3.15 percent.

→ Tiny Biotech Stock Wins $75 Billion Patent (From Behind the Markets) (Ad)

Should you invest $1,000 in International Business Machines right now?

Before you consider International Business Machines, you'll want to hear this.

MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and International Business Machines wasn't on the list.

While International Business Machines currently has a "Hold" rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.

View The Five Stocks Here

Investing Strategies To Help Grow Your Retirement Income

Need to stretch out your 401K or Roth IRA plan? Use these time-tested investing strategies to grow the monthly retirement income that your stock portfolio generates.

Get This Free Report