Wall Street soared higher today after a better-than-expected reading on the gross domestic product and a drop in jobless claims gave investors some reassurance that the economy is holding up.

Tropical Storm Gustav was weakening this morning as it moved through the Caribbean, a day after hitting Haiti as a hurricane.

Stocks sank in thin trading today as worries about American International Group touched off broader concerns that continued tightness in the credit markets will usher in another round of trouble for financial companies.

Haitians were told to prepare for evacuations as Tropical Storm Gustav was set to hit the country’s southern coast as a full hurricane tomorrow morning.