A late rally gave US stocks a moderate advance today as a second day of sharply lower oil prices calmed investors uncertain about the direction of interest rates.

US stocks drifted lower in quiet trading today as oil prices edged upward and concerns about the car industry intensified when Ford slashed its profit outlook for the year.

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.