U.S. stocks extend gains on earnings optimism

Date: Fri, Apr 9, 2010 at 12:01 PM

U.S. STOCKS EXTEND GAINS ON EARNINGS OPTIMISM
U.S. stocks open higher Friday, extending Thursday's gains on hopes
for the first-quarter earnings reports starting Monday to come in
above analysts' estimates.

SUPREME COURT JUSTICE STEVENS TO RETIRE
Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, leader of the high court's
liberal bloc and the court's oldest member, is reportedly retiring
this summer.

TOP U.S. BANKS REPORTEDLY MASKED RISK LEVELS
Major U.S. banks masked the level of risk they took over the last five
quarters by lowering their debt levels just before reporting the
figures publicly, The Wall Street Journal reports Friday.

FRIDAY'S BIGGEST GAINING AND DECLINING STOCKS
Ambac Financial, Palm and Zale are all making notable moves in the
U.S. market.

GREECE FUNDING, U.S. SALES DRIVE EUROPE STOCKS UP
Stocks in Europe rose Friday, as evidence of growing U.S. consumption
and a report of funding for debt-ravaged Greece lifting stocks.