US stocks dropped today, extending investors’ losses for the third straight session and pushing the Dow Jones industrial average below 11,000 for the first time since March 9.

Higher oil prices and news of slowing growth in the service sector pulled stocks lower today despite some optimism over a 25 billion dollar bid for Guidant Corp.

Nervous investors collected profits and sent stocks lower today, wiping out an early advance amid conflicting signals about inflation and consumer spending.

Lower oil prices and technology news helped stocks rally today despite a legal dispute that raised questions about Johnson & Johnson’s $25bn acquisition of Guidant Corp.

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.