Concerns over weaker global growth appeared to overshadow strong reports about the US economy, nudging the stock market to a small loss.

US manufacturing activity rose to its highest level since 2011 last month and construction spending rebounded strongly in July, in further signs of vigour in the economy.

Service industries expanded in April at the fastest pace in eight months, a sign the biggest part of the US economy will bolster growth this quarter.

Stocks closed higher for a fourth straight day on Wall Street yesterday after a report on hiring provided another encouraging sign that the US economy is emerging from its winter slump.

New signs of life in the manufacturing sector helped push the US stock market to a record high today.

GLOBAL manufacturing ended 2013 on a strong note, as major exporters like the US, Japan, and Germany all saw demand pick up, although China’s performance remained modest, surveys showed yesterday.

On the day before the US presidential election, stock indexes managed slight gains in thin trading.

Transport giant FirstGroup lost more than a fifth of its stock market value today after an embarrassing British government u-turn dealt a blow to its hopes of running the West Coast franchise.

Asian stock markets were boosted today by an upbeat report showing US manufacturing grew in September for the first time in four months.

The US manufacturing sector expanded in September for the first time since May as new orders and employment picked up, an industry report showed yesterday.

Weaker-than-expected US manufacturing figures, just days after China announced its own production slowdown, sent Asian stock markets down today.

Fears that the European Central Bank will fail to prescribe the medicine needed for the ailing eurozone triggered big losses on London's leading shares index today.

A surge in hiring last month got a big welcome on Wall Street today.

World stock markets have perked up as a meeting of the European Central Bank raised hopes for some type of action to ease the continent’s debt and banking crisis.

Asian stock markets rose after a burst of manufacturing growth in the US pushed the Dow Jones industrial average to its highest close in more than four years.

News that Spain's economy entered another recession renewed worries about the fragility of Europe's finances today and nudged stocks lower on Wall Street last night.

US stocks climbed today after strong manufacturing data and encouraging reports about the Greek debt crisis.

World stock markets were mixed today, as encouraging signs about the US economy were tempered by investors’ fears that time was running out for Greece to fix its debt crisis.

Investors started 2012 with a burst of optimism today as upbeat manufacturing data from all corners of the world triggered a rally on London’s top shares index.

Shares in London closed higher tonight despite falls on European markets because of continuing fears over the eurozone debt crisis.

The FTSE 100 Index continued its rebound today as positive jobs and manufacturing data from the US ensured a last minute push into the black.

Serious doubts about the health of the job market and the pace of the US economic recovery put markets on edge last night.

Wall Street stocks ended lower today on lingering fears that Europe’s debt crisis will continue to spread even after Ireland gets bailed out.

US stocks are starting October with moderate gains after some encouraging signs on manufacturing today.

The Dow Jones industrial average broke a seven-day slide today after traders sifted through the market for beaten-down stocks.

The US economy is likely to have added jobs last month for only the second time since the recession began 27 months ago.

Stocks ended higher but well off their best levels of the day as volatility continued to tug at the market.

The first growth in the US service industry in a year and an upgrade of big banks boosted Wall Street after a two-week slide.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 index hit four digits again today.

Wall Street is now worrying about the companies usually seen as safe havens.

Wall Street brushed off more bad economic news today and finished with a rally that left stocks at their highest levels in two months.

US stocks started the new year with a big rally, sending the Dow Jones industrials up more than 250 points and to their first close above 9,000 in two months

Wall Street staged a big advance in the penultimate session of 2008 today after Washington’s latest lifeline to the car industry bolstered hopes that the US government will do whatever is necessary to cut short the recession.

Wall Street withstood another stream of bad economic readings today, closing sharply higher as investors shuttled between pessimism about the recession and hopes that the nation might start seeing relief soon. The major indexes saw big swings throughout the day, but all closed up more than 2%, giving the market its second straight advance.

THE continuing decline in Irish and European manufacturing has led for fresh demands on the European Central Bank to cut interest rates further.

The financial markets saw some relative calm today as investors uneasily awaited a Senate vote on the banking bailout plan, with Wall Street closing with only modest losses and the credit markets still showing signs of strain.

Wall Street tumbled today after the US government said personal incomes fell last month by the largest amount in nearly three years while consumer spending slowed.

Wall Street retreated again today after readings on jobs and manufacturing indicated that businesses and workers still face a tough economy.

Wall Street capped a shortened trading week with a mixed finish today after some uneven economic data: news of a contraction in the US’ services sector and a tame reading on employment.

Wall Street began the third quarter with an erratic session today as a mix of news made it clear the country is still deep in economic problems but may have some positive trends – including some better than expected June sales for General Motors.

Wall Street ended an arduous first half quietly with stocks showing mostly modest declines.

Wall Street has ended a wobbly session with mixed results today as concerns about the financial sector eroded enthusiasm over a decline in oil prices and a report that signalled modest growth in the service economy.

Wall Street shot higher today as investors, while anticipating another dismal jobs report on Friday, viewed the rising dollar and falling oil prices as promising for the economy. The Dow Jones industrial average rose nearly 190 points to finish above 13,000 for the first time since January 3.