Falling consumer confidence and a smaller-than-expected rise in new jobs sent stocks lower for a second session today, with downbeat earnings from Amazon.com Inc. saddling the technology sector. The major indexes each lost more than 1% this week.

Wall Street had a surge of optimism today, sending stocks higher after investors interpreted a Federal Reserve report on the economy as a sign that the Fed’s year-long string of interest rate hikes may be nearing an end.

Wall Street waffled before finishing lower today as oil prices also see-sawed and traders weighed lacklustre earnings from Xerox Corp against a surge in housing prices.

Wall Street’s rally skidded to a halt today after weaker-than-expected earnings from Citigroup Inc. raised questions about other companies’ second-quarter results – but a drop in oil prices limited the market’s decline.

Stocks in the United States finished mixed after an uninspiring session today as investors kept a wary eye on near-record oil prices and debated the prospect of a social security reform package without private investment accounts.