Stocks finished mixed as lacklustre economic reports offered Wall Street little incentive to place big bets ahead of a long weekend.

FROM engaging in sexual relations with an intern to letting the Vietnam War escalate, US presidents have been blamed for some egregious errors.

A late selloff left US stocks modestly lower today as weakening consumer confidence and a rise in wholesale prices prompted investors to take profits and put the brakes on Wall Street’s recent rebound.

The London market sank deeper into the red today after a broker advised investors to bail out of Bradford & Bingley.

Hundreds of same-sex marriages kept San Francisco City Hall offices open and buzzing through the weekend, with gay and lesbian couples waiting hours to exchange vows and conservative activists promising a relentless legal challenge.

Gay and lesbian couples rushed to San Francisco to celebrate Valentine’s Day with weddings at City Hall today as officials continued to defy state law by issuing marriage licences to same-sex partners.

THE euro and sterling sank against the dollar yesterday as concerns about an imminent US-led war on Iraq eased, bolstering the greenback across the board in relatively thin trade.

Investors remained on the sidelines of the London market today as thin volumes and an absence of significant corporate news led to a subdued session trading.

Concerns over a widening congressional investigation of Enron further soured the mood on Wall Street today and sent stocks tumbling.