Stocks posted small gains, helped by strong economic data but held back by weakness in the technology sector and jitters among investors worried that a broader correction hasn't finished playing out. The Dow Jones Industrial Average has moved between gains and losses recently. It was up 12 points, or 0.1%, at 10132.10. Components Wal-Mart Stores, American Express, and Caterpillar were up nearly 2% each, but Microsoft was down 3.2% despite posting a 60% rise in fiscal second-quarter profit. Microsoft joins a number of other stocks in recent weeks that have fallen despite reporting quarterly earnings above analysts' estimates, indicating a strong fourth quarter was already priced in by investors. If its recent performance holds through the close, the Dow will finish January down nearly 3%, the biggest monthly loss since February 2009. However, some traders worry that the Dow's 5.5% decline so far from its recent high still leaves room for more downside before it hits the 10% threshold that usually defines a correction.[Read more...]