NEW YORK, May 24 (Reuters) – U.S. stocks fell for a third
day on Friday amid lingering concern the U.S. central bank may
scale back its support to the economy.

Trading has been choppy in the second half of the week as
market participants assess the Federal Reserve’s evolving stance
towards markets. Fed support has been instrumental in a rally
that has boosted U.S. stocks to record highs this year.

NEW YORK, May 24 (Reuters) – U.S. stocks were set to open
lower on Friday, setting up Wall Street for its first weekly
decline since mid April, amid concern the U.S. central bank may
scale back its support to the economy.

Futures briefly paired losses after data showed orders for
long-lasting U.S. manufactured goods rose more than expected in
April.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Stock index futures fell on Friday, setting up Wall Street for its first weekly decline since mid April, amid concern the central bank may scale back its support to the economy.

Trading has been choppy in the second half of the week as market participants assess the Federal Reserve’s evolving stance towards markets. Fed support has been instrumental in a rally that has boosted U.S. stocks to record highs this year.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – For the past few months, the U.S. Federal Reserve has been squarely in the financial markets’ corner, thanks to its massive dollops of monetary stimulus. But signs that the central bank is discussing reducing that support by purchasing fewer bonds mean that trading is likely to get bumpier in coming months.

The Fed’s evolving stance was made apparent by Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke’s remarks to Congress Wednesday, where he laid out the conditions that might cause the Fed to reduce its $85 billion a month buying of Treasuries and mortgage-backed bonds.

NEW YORK, May 23 (Reuters) – For the past few months, the
U.S. Federal Reserve has been squarely in the financial markets’
corner, thanks to its massive dollops of monetary stimulus. But
signs that the central bank is discussing reducing that support
by purchasing fewer bonds mean that trading is likely to get
bumpier in coming months.

The Fed’s evolving stance was made apparent by Federal
Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke’s remarks to Congress Wednesday,
where he laid out the conditions that might cause the Fed to
reduce its $85 billion a month buying of Treasuries and
mortgage-backed bonds.

NEW YORK, May 22 (Reuters) – U.S. stocks rose on Wednesday,
giving up some gains after an initial rally, after Federal
Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the central bank needed to
see further signs of traction in the economy before it tapered
its economic stimulus efforts.

The S&P 500 hit yet another record high after Bernanke’s
prepared speech to Congress offered no sign that he was ready to
retreat from the Fed’s latest round of bond buying, which cooled
investor speculation that the central bank was preparing to
reduce its monetary stimulus.

NEW YORK, May 22 (Reuters) – U.S. stocks edged higher at the
open on Wednesday, ahead of highly anticipated testimony in
Congress by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on the economy
and monetary policy.

Bernanke is expected to strike a dovish tone when he
addresses a congressional committee at 10:00 a.m. EDT (1400
GMT). Earlier on Wednesday, influential New York Fed President
William Dudley reinforced his own remarks from Tuesday, when he
damped speculation that the U.S. central bank was preparing to
reduce its monetary stimulus.

NEW YORK, May 22 (Reuters) – U.S. stocks were set to rise at
the open on Wednesday, ahead of highly anticipated testimony in
Congress by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on the economy
and monetary policy.

Bernanke is expected to strike a dovish tone when he
addresses a congressional committee at 10:00 a.m. EDT (1400
GMT). Earlier on Wednesday, influential New York Fed President
William Dudley reinforced his own remarks from Tuesday, when he
damped speculation that the U.S. central bank was preparing to
reduce its monetary stimulus.

NEW YORK, May 22 (Reuters) – U.S. stock index futures rose
in thin trading on Wednesday, ahead of highly anticipated
Congressional testimony by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke
on the economy and monetary policy.

Bernanke is expected to strike a dovish tone when he
addresses a congressional committee at 10:00 a.m. EDT (1400
GMT). Earlier on Wednesday, influential New York Fed President
William Dudley reinforced his own remarks Tuesday, when he
damped speculation that the U.S. central bank was preparing to
reduce its monetary stimulus.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Stock futures rose in thin trading on Wednesday, ahead of highly anticipated Congressional testimony by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on the economy and monetary policy.

Bernanke is expected to strike a dovish tone when he addresses a congressional committee at 10:00 a.m. EDT. Earlier on Wednesday, influential New York Fed President William Dudley reinforced his own remarks Tuesday, when he damped speculation that the U.S. central bank was preparing to reduce its monetary stimulus.