Stocks decline for fourth straight week

A battered stock market recovered from a sharp drop in late trading Friday but still posted its fourth straight weekly decline.

The Dow Jones industrials, down nearly 170 points in afternoon trading, clawed their way back to finish with a gain of 10.05, or 0.1 percent, to 10,012.23. But more stocks fell than rose on the New York Stock Exchange as investors contended with another series of troubling signals about the global economy.

The concerns about European nations are adding to a pile of worries that also include China's efforts to keep its growth in check and plans in Washington to restrict big banks.

The Dow is down 713 points, or 6.7 percent, since closing at a 15-month high of 10,725.43 on Jan. 19. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 3.08, or 0.3 percent, to 1,066.19. The Nasdaq composite index rose 15.69, or 0.7 percent, to 2,141.12.

- AP