Business news for Mon, 31 Dec 2007 & with word stock. 35 news.

The home builder's head of investor relations sold stock at a $300,000 loss.

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- International stock funds enjoyed a rising tide in the past 12 months that lifted most portfolios, and fund managers predict that 2008 will be the seventh consecutive year in which foreign-stock funds top their U.S. rivals.

As the new year dawns, and the frenetic holiday season recedes, it's a good time to take stock of how well you're doing in search. There's no better time than the post-holiday lull to do some hard thinking, and some thoughtful planning, about how you might improve your organization's search visibility in 2008 by using best practices -- both in terms of SEO and paid search.

Stocks that were moving substantially or trading heavily Monday on the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq Stock Market:

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Nasdaq Stock Market Inc. has received clearance from The Committee on Foreign Investment for Borse Dubai's investment in Nasdaq, the New York-based exchange said Monday. The approval paves the way for Nasdaq to proceed with its purchase of Stockholm-based OMX AB and allows Borse Dubai to transfer its OMX shares to Nasdaq once its stake in OMX reaches at least 67%, Nasdaq said. Nasdaq had originally announced the approval on Friday but withdrew the announcement, noting that it was distributed in error.

Global stock market competition highlighted the year in new issues.

As 2007 draws to a close, we bid adieu to a volatile year in the stock market, although one that is going to end with an overall gain. The average diversified stock fund this year will post about a 7% return, nothing to write home about given the market's historical rise of more than 10% per year, but nothing to sneeze at either given we had a virtual meltdown in some sectors of the financial world in the middle of the year.

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- The New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq are observing regular trading hours Monday, but both will close Tuesday in observance of New Year's Day. However, the bond markets are closing at 2 p.m. Monday ahead of the holiday.

Question: I'm 46 and have about $350,000 set aside in my workplace retirement savings plan in what I would call a moderately aggressive mix of stock and bonds funds.

Analyst Scott Kessler keeps a hold opinion on the stock

To use one of football's well-worn cliches, 2007 was a year of two halves. First the FTSE soared on a takeover boom, then interest rate fears and the credit crunch blew all that away

The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange may list itself after the adoption of the Procaccia Committee findings that were submitted in 2005. ...

AFP - Europe's main stock markets fell in shortened trade on Monday -- the final dealing day of a year in which gains for equities have been curtailed by worries about the troubled US economy.

LONDON (MarketWatch) -- U.S. stock futures inched higher on the final day of 2007, with the last release this year on the woeful state of the U.S. housing market on the docket.

Asian stock markets had a strong, if volatile, year with China leading the pack as investors bet on the region’s continued growth prospects.

AP - Asian stock markets had a strong, if volatile, year with China leading the pack as investors bet on the region's continued growth prospects.

THE Australian stock market shut out 2007 in negative territory after a short and flat day of trading ahead of New Year celebrations.

AP - U.S. stocks headed for a largely flat open Monday as investors awaited a report on home sales and looked to close a volatile and difficult year.

U.S. stocks headed for a largely flat open Monday as investors awaited a report on home sales and looked to close a volatile and difficult year.