Wall Street extended a huge rally today as investors stormed back into the market, relieved that the government plans to restore calm to the financial system by rescuing banks from billions of dollars in bad debt.

Asian stock markets were down sharply today amid growing alarm over the world’s financial system as investors braced for a seismic shake-up on Wall Street involving the likely collapse of Lehman Brothers and the takeover of Merrill Lynch.

US stocks ended a temperamental session moderately higher today as investors bought up the stocks of energy, materials and consumer-staple companies, but remained cautious about the beleaguered financial sector.

Wall Street finished mixed in fickle trading today, with investors still unsettled about the US economy ahead of Friday’s employment report and only somewhat relieved about sliding commodities prices.

Wall Street retreated today after Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac fell to their lowest levels in nearly 20 years on concerns that the government might need to bail out the mortgage financiers.

Wall Street ended a whipsaw day mostly lower today, as fears of escalating instability in the financial sector kept investors on edge despite a steep retreat in oil.

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 advanced today after a better-than-expected report on consumer prices tempered some of the market's concerns about inflation.

US stocks came off early losses to finish higher today as investors seemed to absorb unpleasant signals about the economy with equanimity and draw comfort from the notion that the Federal Reserve did not appear overly concerned about inflation.

Wall Street advanced today as expectations for an interest rate cut from the US Federal Reserve and an uptick in pending home sales helped offset concerns about another round of subprime mortgage-related losses.

Wall Street wilted today as investors awaiting next week’s Federal Reserve meeting remained uneasy that fallout from the slumping housing market could bring more bank losses and pull the economy into recession.

Stocks rebounded sharply today as investors, growing more optimistic about chances for an interest rate cut, sought bargains after the previous session’s huge tumble.

Wall Street plunged anew today, hurtling the Dow Jones industrial average down more than 280 points after comments from a Bear Stearns executive reinvigorated the market’s fears of a widening credit crunch.

Stocks gained for a fifth straight session and the Dow Jones industrials achieved their third straight record close today after the Labour Department said falling gas prices helped push inflation lower last month.

EUROPEAN Central Bank President Jean- Claude Trichet dashed investors’ expectations for an increase in interest rates next month, sending the euro to its biggest decline in two weeks.

Nagging worries about inflation bogged Wall Street down today with investors sending stocks lower as they tried to reconcile solid economic and earnings news, reports of anthrax discovered at the Pentagon, and a gloomy outlook on semiconductor stocks.

Stocks in the United States extended their rally with modest gains today.

Wall Street looked past an underwhelming statement by the Federal Reserve today and rebounded smartly as bargain hunters picked up stocks battered by a week of heavy losses.

Wall Street extended its advance into a sixth straight week today after a brokerage upgrade of IBM raised investor expectations of a rebounding economy. The Nasdaq composite reached an 18-month high.

THE dollar rose to a seven-day high against the euro in New York trading as signs the world’s biggest economy is strengthening lured investors to US assets such as stocks and corporate bonds.