Wall Street got what it wanted today – Labour Department figures showing slower US job growth – but cautious investors pushed stocks modestly lower, unwilling to trust that the report was enough to keep the Federal Reserve from raising interest rates next week.

Mild economic data and strong retail sales lifted stocks today and helped investors overcome concerns about the Federal Reserve’s expected decision on interest rate hikes next week.

US investors put their interest rate worries on hold and sent stocks higher on Wall Street today after strong earnings reports from Time Warner and Procter & Gamble restored some of the market’s flagging confidence.