Share prices closed sharply higher, with the DJIA ending above 10,000 points and the Nasdaq composite finishing above 2,000 for the first time in months, after the NAPM's non-manufacturing index for the services industry indicated that the sector expanded last month, countering the overall recessionary trend, dealers said.

Wall Street took a respite today after two weeks of volatile trading, dipping lower as investors awaited a Federal Reserve meeting on interest rates.

Wall Street's hopes for a turnaround on the stocks have fizzled out after a rally soured in the last hour of trading, resulting in only a minimal lift to blue chips.