Equity markets ended lower on Monday on continued negative news out of the financial sector. In economic news, ISM Non-Manufacturing rose to 55.8 in October, above consensus of 54.0. In corporate news, Marvel Entertainment Inc (MVL) rose 16.17% after the company, which licenses comicbook characters, posted a better-than-expected quarterly profit, helped by Spider-Man 3 merchandise licensing, and forecast a strong 2008. Light sweet crude oil for December delivery fell $1.56 to $94.37. The DJIA fell 0.38%, while the Nasdaq lost 0.54%.

Stocks staged a late rally Tuesday, after struggling for direction most of the session, as strength in the energy sector comforted investors jittery about the credit market crisis. In corporate news, Tenet Healthcare (THC) rose 22.29% after the company reported a third quarter EPS loss of $0.02 excluding one-time items on revenue of $2.21 billion versus consensus of a $0.07 loss and $2.18 billion. Career Education Corp. (CECO) fell $2.47, or 7.08%, to $32.40, after the company reported third quarter EPS of $0.21 on revenue of $404.4 million versus consensus of $0.23 and $409.96 million. Light sweet crude oil for December delivery rose $2.65 to $97.02. The DJIA rose 0.87%, while the Nasdaq gained 1.07%.

On Wednesday financial stocks led the broader market lower, a sign credit concerns are still driving markets as investors also cope with a weak dollar and record oil prices. In economic news, wholesale inventories rose 0.8% in September, above consensus of 0.2%. In corporate news, Washington Mutual (WM) fell 17.29% after speculation that company may have to cut its dividend. Shares of General Motors Corp. (GM) fell 6.11% after the auto maker posted a huge third-quarter net loss, hurt by a $38.6 billion charge related to tax accounting, though it narrowed its loss at its core North American operations. The DJIA fell 2.64%, while the Nasdaq lost 2.70%.

Equity markets finished lower amid the ongoing credit and subprime loss fears on Thursday. The markets rallied late to finish with a modest loss, led by the financials. In economic news, initial jobless claims for the week ending November 3, 2007 fell 13,000, to 317,000, versus consensus of 325,000. In corporate news, First Solar Inc., (FSLR) surged as much as 38 percent after reporting a 10-fold increase in third-quarter profit on higher sales of its thin-film photovoltaic panels. Chico’s FAS (CHS) fell 9.90% after the women’s clothing retailer said same-store sales fell 10.6% in October, worse than analysts had projected. The DJIA fell 0.25%, while the Nasdaq lost 1.92%.

Equity markets finished lower on Friday as technology and financials stocks weighed on the market. In economic news, consumer confidence fell to 75.0 in November, below consensus of 80.0. The import price index rose 1.8% in November, above consensus of 1.2%. In corporate news, Leap Wireless International Inc (LEAP) fell 36.80% after the company said it will restate results from 2004 to the second quarter of this year after making errors in reporting revenues and operating expenses. The DJIA fell 1.69%, while the Nasdaq lost 2.52%.

Equity markets finished the week in negative territory as higher energy prices, credit market concerns and negative headlines out of the Tech sector weighed on the market. The resignation of Citigroup (C) CEO Charles Prince last weekend, along with a report that the financial giant will have to write off possibly as much as $11 billion more in sub-prime related losses in the fourth quarter, added to concerns about the possibility of further losses in the financial sector. For the week, the DJIA, S&P and Nasdaq lost 4.07%, 3.72%, and 6.49%, respectively.