Wall Street withstood another stream of bad economic readings today, closing sharply higher as investors shuttled between pessimism about the recession and hopes that the nation might start seeing relief soon. The major indexes saw big swings throughout the day, but all closed up more than 2%, giving the market its second straight advance.

Wall Street ended a relatively calm session with a moderate loss today as investors decided to cash in some of their profits from the previous day’s massive advance.

Wall Street tumbled today after the US government said personal incomes fell last month by the largest amount in nearly three years while consumer spending slowed.

Wall Street closed a winning week with a narrowly mixed performance today after the US government reported that Americans’ spending rose in April to keep pace with rising costs.

Stocks tumbled today after a plan to alleviate a liquidity crisis at Bear Stearns touched off concerns about the severity of credit troubles.

Wall Street closed narrowly mixed today as investors wrestled with record-high commodities prices and data that pointed to a continually weakening economy.

Wall Street finished moderately higher in fitful trading today as investors, still nervous about the economy, decided to buy back into a stock market pummelled by three straight days of losses.

Wall Street retrenched today, closing sharply lower as investors showed their cautious side and cashed in profits from the market's best week in nearly five years.

Wall Street pulled off a stunning comeback today, surging higher in late trading and wiping out what looked to be yet another precipitous decline.

Wall Street advanced sharply today, boosted by news that Merrill Lynch will receive an investment of up to $6.2bn (€4.3bn) from two investment groups.

Wall Street extended last week’s losses today as investors remained concerned about flagging growth and rising prices, and were sceptical that a special Federal Reserve credit auction would be a solution.

Wall Street ratcheted its way through a fractious session today before finally closing lower on expectations of further fallout from the ongoing credit crisis.

Wall Street closed mostly higher today as investors appeared relieved that more bad news did not emerge about risky mortgages and shrinking credit markets. Investors seeking safety pressed into shorter-term Treasurys.

Wall Street retreated sharply today as investors glumly absorbed a spike in oil prices and comments from two Federal Reserve officials that unexpected economic growth could prompt an interest rate hike.

Wall Street retreated sharply today as investors glumly absorbed a spike in oil prices and comments from two Federal Reserve officials that unexpected economic growth could prompt an interest-rate hike.