Wall Street’s worst fears came to pass today, when the government’s financial bail-out plan failed in Congress and stocks plunged precipitously – hurtling the Dow Jones industrials down nearly 780 points in their largest one-day point drop ever.

Wall Street logged another winning day today as a drop in oil prices and a better-than-expected profit report from technology bellwether Cisco Systems helped corral the market's worries about the financial sector.

Wall Street's euphoria over a $200bn (€128.46bn) plan from the Federal Reserve turned to caution today, leading stocks to retreat a day after their biggest rally in more than five years.

Wall Street managed a moderate gain in an erratic session as investors sorted through a downbeat Federal Reserve assessment of the economy and were also disappointed by a plan to bail out troubled bond insurer Ambac Financial Group Inc.

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

Stocks finished higher today as investors set aside some concerns about several downbeat economic reports and focused on strong profits from Oracle Corp.

Wall Street wilted today as investors awaiting next week’s Federal Reserve meeting remained uneasy that fallout from the slumping housing market could bring more bank losses and pull the economy into recession.

Wall Street barrelled higher today for the second day in a row, giving the Dow Jones industrial average its biggest two-day point gain five years after a Federal Reserve official hinted that the central bank may lower interest rates again.

Wall Street shot higher today, lifting the Dow Jones industrials nearly 320 points after reassuring news from Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. quelled some of the market’s worst fears about the credit crisis and the economy. A plunge in the price of oil gave investors further incentive to buy.

Wall Street pulled back in erratic trading today as investors grew more concerned about a deteriorating housing market and the widening impact of soured debt after Citigroup Inc. warned it plans to book eight billion dollars to 11 billion dollars in additional losses.

Stocks barely budged today, ending narrowly mixed after yields on the 30-year Treasury note briefly hit 5% and investors grew skittish a day ahead of the Federal Reserve's first meeting of the year.

Stocks pulled back today after aluminium producer Alcoa Inc. kicked off earnings season with a weaker-than-expected profit report and minutes from the Federal Reserve’s last meeting stoked concerns about the economy.

Wall Street ended a lacklustre session little changed today after a speech by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke failed to give investors any hints about US interest rate policy despite their concerns that the economy might be slowing too fast.

Surging gold and energy prices dragged stocks lower today as inflation fears curbed Wall Street’s enthusiasm over solid first-quarter earnings from financial services firm Citigroup Inc.

Investors welcomed the possibility of increased merger activity and sent stocks higher today despite a lack of other news that kept trading volume light.

Wall Street regained its composure today, marching higher after companies including Merrill Lynch & Co. and International Business Machines Corp. beat earnings expectations.

Wall Street’s rally skidded to a halt today after weaker-than-expected earnings from Citigroup Inc. raised questions about other companies’ second-quarter results – but a drop in oil prices limited the market’s decline.

Stocks drifted to a mixed finish in the United States today as Wall Street worried about the impact of high oil prices on the nation’s trade deficit and Intel Corp’s bullish sales forecast prompted some profit-taking.

A surge in oil prices sent the major stock indexes to their lowest level of the year today as investors overlooked a strong earnings report and a bullish outlook from General Electric Co. All three indexes fell for the third straight week.

THE dollar had its biggest annual decline versus the euro on low US interest rates relative to Europe, and on signs officials on either side of the Atlantic aren’t concerned about the decline in the US currency.

CRUDE oil in New York, which is headed for the highest average price in 20 years, rose on speculation that an Energy Department report today will show that inventories fell last week.

THE dollar fell past $1.26 against the euro for the first time, heading for its biggest annual drop on low US interest rates relative to Europe.

GOLDMAN Sachs Group Inc., the number one underwriter of equities worldwide during the past five years, lost market share in 2003 in the weakest year for initial public offerings in more than a decade.

THE dollar rose to a seven-day high against the euro in New York trading as signs the world’s biggest economy is strengthening lured investors to US assets such as stocks and corporate bonds.

US financial-services companies plan to transfer 500,000 jobs out of the country, but Ireland is placed only ninth in a list of the top ten relocation countries.