US stocks tumbled today as the ailing credit market and a spike in home foreclosures intensified the market’s worries about a sagging economy. The Dow Jones industrials gave up 214 points.

Wall Street rallied once again today as investors bet that companies hurt by the housing crisis will benefit from a government plan to help financially stretched homeowners and from another interest rate cut.

Wall Street finished essentially flat today, with investors still confident the Federal Reserve will lower rates next week but treading cautiously as oil prices crossed $80 a barrel for the first time and the dollar extended its decline.

Wall Street shook off early uncertainty to close moderately higher today as a series of mixed economic reports managed to make investors more optimistic about the chances for an interest rate cut.

Wall Street rose today on some strong earnings and new deals, but not without a struggle, as mounting signs of a tougher lending climate continued to dog investors.

US stocks plunged today, driving the Dow Jones industrials down more than 240 points in their second-biggest drop of the year as troubles piled up for subprime lenders, who lend money to people with a low credit rating.

US stocks ended a quiet session today with a moderate gain on strong earnings news and a decline in the trade deficit.