Wall Street extended its November rally into a new week today, betting that an upcoming series of economic reports will show strength in the overall economy with inflation contained.

Sony executives today apologised for inconvenience caused by a massive global recall in laptop batteries, but said the problems were now fixed and that none of the company’s top leaders would resign over the recall.

Wall Street showed some signs of stability late today, posting a moderate decline after falling sharply early in the session in response to tumbling commodities prices.

Stocks faced a second day of steep losses today as the dollar weakened and bonds prices fell after data showing higher import prices stoked the market’s inflation worries. The major indexes declined sharply this week.

US stocks fell slightly today after the Federal Reserve raised interest rates as expected.

HEWLETT-PACKARD, the world’s largest printer maker and the No 2 seller of personal computers, said third-quarter profits fell 88% after expenses from bringing earnings back from overseas and firing workers.

HEWLETT-PACKARD Co, a week after ousting chief executive Carly Fiorina for failing to produce the profits she promised, said first-quarter earnings were little changed.

Investors resumed their December rally today, looking past higher oil prices and focusing instead on building up their portfolios before year’s end.

Wall Street closed out a difficult week with a small gain today, even as many investors, concerned over yet another spike in oil prices and a drop in consumer confidence, stayed on the sidelines.

Interest rate fears drove a major sell-off on Wall Street today, with the Dow Jones industrial average closing below 10,000 for the first time since December 10 and sending all three major indexes to their lows for the year.

Wall Street was unable to shake its malaise over interest rates today, closing mixed despite a rally in technology stocks and a series of upbeat earnings reports from companies, including 3M and Eli Lilly. The Nasdaq composite index broke a four-day losing streak.

Princeton: Dell Inc. founder Michael Dell will hand over the chief executive title to president Kevin Rollins on July 16, giving up some control of the world’s biggest personal computer maker.

Wall Street began the first full week of 2004 with a solid advance today rising on encouraging interest rate news, a strong semiconductor sales report and an upbeat forecast from software firm Siebel Systems.

Wall Street sank today as investors sifted through a series of downbeat economic reports.

Wall Street lost some momentum today after Wal-Mart turned in a disappointing earnings report and government data showed a slightly higher number of jobless claims and a larger-than-expected trade deficit.

Chief Executive Officer of Dell Inc., Michael Dell, has said the company does not expect to make a major acquisition anytime soon.

The new name for Dell Computer Corp is to be Dell Inc. The company is to drop the word Computer as the company now sells far more than just computers.