NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks rose on Wednesday in light trading after a modest rise in consumer prices in April cooled inflation fears while Macy's Inc (M.N) and Freddie Mac (FRE.N) posted reassuring quarterly results.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The two largest U.S. shopping mall operators are set to report quarterly results this week, and investors are looking for them to shed some light on the struggling U.S. consumer's ability to keep retailers going.

The Dow falls more than 100 points and the Russell 2,000 index tumbles 2%. Stocks pulled back Tuesday, with the Dow Jones industrials tumbling more than 100 points as a rush of quarterly results from bellwethers such as AT&T , DuPont and McDonald's failed to impress investors.

NEW YORK -- Stocks headed toward a narrowly mixed open Monday as investors awaited a parade of quarterly results from companies following a week of strong gains for Wall Street.

Shares surge after three Dow components post better-than-expected quarterly results. Oil prices hit a new record. Stocks surged Wednesday, sending the Dow Jones industrials up more than 250 points, after better-than-expected earnings reports from three Dow components relieved anxiety about corporate profits and the economy.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks gained on Tuesday as record oil prices lifted energy shares and stronger-than-expected quarterly results at several U.S. regional banks boosted shares of financial companies.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Several regional banks reported better-than-expected quarterly results on Tuesday, and expressed confidence they could withstand soaring credit losses as the nation's housing market and economy slump.

Retail sales strength takes some of the sting out of Wachovia's earnings report as indexes post moderate losses. Stocks finished a quiet session moderately lower Monday as investors grappled with concerns about the health of corporate profits after Wachovia posted disappointing quarterly results.

NEW YORK -- Stocks finished a quiet session moderately lower Monday as investors grappled with concerns about the health of corporate profits after Wachovia Corp. posted disappointing quarterly results.

Investors knew the first three months of the year were bad for companies, but now it appears that they were downright abysmal -- and that there might be more pain to come. With the nation's banks releasing their quarterly results this week, anxiety has returned to the stock market.