Bristol-Myers Squibb Co failed to beat analysts’ fourth-quarter profit estimates as the company invested in new products and sales fell for Plavix and Avapro, top-selling pills that will face generic competition this year.

Wall Street rose sharply today as investors grew more confident that the Federal Reserve will lower interest rates next week, even after its chairman gave no clues about the central bank’s intentions.

The Dow Jones Industrial averages soared to a five-year high today.

Investor confidence in the United States raced ahead today as the Standard & Poor’s 500 index and Nasdaq composite index both reached four-year highs.

Tech stocks extended their decline today as United States investors locked in gains following disappointing results from Computer Associates.

War concerns and a weak Wal-Mart outlook led to falls on Wall Street on Monday.

Leading shares plunged in opening deals, dragged lower by TMTs, heavyweight drugs and oils after precipitous falls on Wall Street last night, with only a handful of defensively positioned stocks registering a gain, dealers said.

Share prices were lower in early trade, after stronger than-expected inflation and labor data intensified the market's concerns that the Federal Reserve is poised to raise rates soon, dealers said.

Share prices were higher in early trade after changing direction several times in uncertain price action, as investors reviewed a new set of technology sector research notes and a defense industry takeover offer, dealers said.

Trading opened flat on the Nasdaq composite and slightly lower on the DJIA.