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.

A fresh wave of worries pushed US stocks lower today as invesors dealt with disappointing earnings in the consumer sector, rising oil prices and the possibility of a nuclear weapon test by North Korea.

Investors sent shares higher on Wall Street today, amid relief that the US government is lowering the national terror alert level and heartened by reports that Iraq would destroy some missiles.

Wall Street managed a sharp rebound today, rising sharply despite allegations of insider trading at ImClone and more profit warnings.