Stocks end down amid dread about earnings

Alcoa kicks off what's expected to be grim reporting week for companies Seeking to reassure wary lawmakers, President-elect Barack Obama said he will fundamentally change the way the second half of the $700 billion financial bailout fund is spent. Jan. 12: President-elect Barack Obama asks President Bush to trigger the release of the second half of TARP funds, promising to focus on housing and the prevention of foreclosures with the new money. NEW YORK - Wall Street extended last week’s slide Monday, ending lower as falling commodity prices dragged energy stocks lower and reinforced fears that a slowing economy will further erode corporate profits. Wall Street is expecting fourth-quarter and full-year earnings arriving this week to be particularly bleak, especially after several companies warned last week that they are being... [read full story]                    

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