Wall Street was narrowly mixed today as lingering concerns about the US economy offset better-than-expected sales from Asda owner Wal-Mart Stores and a flurry of acquisition activity.

Wall Street struggled but ultimately closed higher today as a bounce in technology stocks and sharply lower oil prices helped investors brush off concerns about sluggish consumer spending.

Wall Street made an auspicious start to December today with stocks soaring as investors welcomed inflation-friendly economic data and hoped the November rally would continue through year-end.

Stocks turned in a mixed performance today after a report showed that the nation’s manufacturing sector was expanding but facing even higher costs, triggering worries about inflation and rising interest rates.

A surprisingly weak reading on the manufacturing sector sent US stocks mostly lower today as investors feared that the economy has indeed run into a soft patch.

Newly optimistic investors sent stocks sharply higher today, propelling the Dow Jones industrials 112 points higher as new economic data showed strength in manufacturing.

Wall Street had an erratic trading session today, closing mixed as investors nervously watched oil prices but were also encouraged by good economic news.

US investors, uncertain about the direction of the economy, sent stocks fluctuating throughout an erratic session today, with prices ending mixed.

THE services sector saw significant growth during December, employing more people for the fourth month in a row, according to new figures released yesterday.

US manufacturing rose in December, an index of the nation's purchasing managers said today.

Wall Street surged again today lifting the Nasdaq composite index to its best close in nearly 22 months as investors welcomed reports of strong growth in the nation’s manufacturing sector and a hefty rise in construction spending.

Investors unnerved by a larger-than-expected jump in unemployment sent stocks lower today, taking profits from Wall Street’s two days of rallies.

THE war may be officially over but the latest data from the US shows its impact is still being felt.

FINANCIAL markets had a mixed day yesterday as a survey showing weakness in the manufacturing sector in the US saw the euro/dollar ratio hit another four-year high by mid-afternoon.

Investors’ anticipation of a tax cut reignited the New Year’s rally on Wall Street today, sending stocks higher and lifting the Dow Jones industrials more than 170 points.

US stocks seemed lost for direction at midday yesterday as a gloomy tech landscape weighed down market sentiment despite some upbeat news on the economy's services sector and DuPont's bullish forecast.