Oil price continues to worry Wall Street

Stocks in the United States finished mixed after an uninspiring session today as investors kept a wary eye on near-record oil prices and debated the prospect of a social security reform package without private investment accounts.

One day after reaching record highs, crude oil futures fell below US$59 (€48.49) per barrel, but the historically high prices were still weighing on investors’ enthusiasm for stocks. A barrel of light crude settled at US$58.90 (€48.41), down 47 cents, on the New York Mercantile Exchange.