US stocks fall

Wall Street struggled through an ambivalent session today, with investors hoping to start a rally but ultimately selling on downbeat news from Home Depot.

With economic and profit recoveries not yet assured, investors were mostly inclined to lock in some profits from a six-week rally for blue chips and five-week upturn for the rest of the market. Home Depot’s disappointing sales and a weak fourth-quarter outlook raised questions about the strength of consumer spending.