BP Plc defended its chief executive yesterday after Russia’s deputy prime minister said he expected Tony Hayward to resign soon, as a strengthening storm threatened efforts to capture more oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico.

Wall Street paused from its big rally today, with stocks closing narrowly mixed after the government’s November labour report showed tepid job growth as well as a pick-up in inflation.

Wall Street ratcheted its way through a fractious session today before finally closing lower on expectations of further fallout from the ongoing credit crisis.