Wall Street’s attempt at a rally fizzled out today, with the major indexes rising in response to a Middle East ceasefire and then giving up most of their gains later in the day.

Asda owner Wal-Mart is ending its loss-making business in Germany, just two months after leaving South Korea in what analysts welcomed as a move to focus resources on more profitable international markets like China and Latin America.

US stocks plunged for a second session in a row today as Wall Street battled a storm of negative factors – soaring oil prices, interest rate jitters and a slowing economy.

Wall Street had a renewed case of interest rate anxiety today, with stocks falling on strong US economic news and a jump in oil prices that heightened worries about inflation.

US stocks resumed their advance on Wall Street today after New York’s Federal Reserve president said in a speech that US inflation was “quite moderate”.

Wall Street finished an uncertain session mixed today, encouraged by a drop in oil prices but worried about disappointing earnings from media giant Time Warner.

Wall Street roared back today, propelling the Dow Jones industrials up 115 points as crude oil prices plunged more than US$2 (€1.66) and consumer confidence surged to a three-year high.

Stocks capped a week of gains with yet another advance today as investors, setting aside a record high price for oil, focused instead on a surge in consumer confidence. The major indexes all closed the week higher.

Stocks rose for a fourth session in a row on Wall Street today.

Stocks rose for a fourth session in a row on Wall Street today.

A near 6% hike in crude oil prices sent US stocks plunging today.

US investors found some reassurance in weak job growth figures today, and sent stocks sharply higher on the assumption that the numbers will prompt Federal Reserve to be less aggressive in raising interest rates.

Stocks were down on Wall Street today as consumer confidence dropped despite the latest report on the US gross domestic product, which grew at a faster pace than expected.

Stocks closed slightly higher in lacklustre pre-holiday trading in New York today, with a better-than-expected government report on oil inventories and good employment figures giving investors reasons to buy stocks.

US stocks finished a lacklustre session slightly higher today as many investors opted to keep to the sidelines after a disappointing report on retail sales and another increase in oil prices.

Stocks tumbled today for the third straight session as investors, increasingly adopting a defensive strategy, bailed out of technology and other higher-risk shares.

US investors today used the latest round of disappointing economic data as an excuse to gather profits and send stocks lower.

US investors, uncertain about the direction of the economy, sent stocks fluctuating throughout an erratic session today, with prices ending mixed.

US investors intent on collecting profits from Friday’s big gains looked past a series of positive earnings reports today and sent blue chip stocks moderately lower. The falling dollar and rising price of oil contributed to the selling.

Stocks extended their slide today, giving the tech-dominated Nasdaq composite index its worst weekly performance in 17 months.

Wall Street posted modest gains today as mixed economic news and a car bombing in Iraq revived investors’ caution following Monday’s big rally.

A shake-up of George Bush's economic team helped send US stocks higher despite a discouraging employment report.

Another wave of positive earnings news from companies such as IBM propelled stocks higher today, giving Wall Street its fifth advance in six sessions. The Dow Jones industrials rose nearly 240 points.