Wall Street regained its composure today, marching higher after companies including Merrill Lynch & Co. and International Business Machines Corp. beat earnings expectations.

Stocks staged a stunning rebound in the United States today as investors snapped up shares on unexpectedly strong earnings from companies including Nokia Corporation and Motorola Inc.

GOLDMAN Sachs Group Inc., the number one underwriter of equities worldwide during the past five years, lost market share in 2003 in the weakest year for initial public offerings in more than a decade.

Better-than-expected profits from Motorola lifted Wall Street higher today as investors grew more optimistic that third-quarter earnings in general will be strong. The Dow Jones industrials rose nearly 90 points to a 16-month high.

Stock prices rose moderately today as investors traded cautiously following last week’s big gains and in advance of earnings reports later this week. Volume was light due to the Yom Kippur holiday.

Stocks slid today after finance ministers from leading industrial nations called for more flexible currency rates, sparking a tumble in the dollar and investor fears of dampened foreign investment.

Wall Street stumbled through a listless session today, closing modestly lower as reports on industrial production and business inventories failed to satisfy investors who had bet on a quick economic rebound.