A two-day rally in the US stock market came to an end last night when an account of the Federal Reserve's last meeting revealed a split between American bank officials over how long it should keep buying bonds to support the economy.

Stocks fell on Wall Street today in thin trading, ending a shortened week quietly as the holiday shopping season began and attention turned to retailers and a steep decline in the dollar against other major currencies.

Stocks fell on Wall Street today in thin trading, ending a shortened week quietly as the holiday shopping season began and attention turned to retailers and a steep decline in the dollar against other major currencies.