Asian stock markets were muted today after mixed US housing data and a subdued day on Wall Street kept investors on the sidelines

GLOBAL stocks staged the biggest rally of 2011 yesterday and the Dow Jones Industrial Average reached an almost three-year high amid better- than-estimated results at companies from Intel to United Technologies and L’Oreal.

Dismal housing data from the US fuelled fears of a slowdown in global economic recovery today, rattling investor confidence and triggering a slump in stock markets.

Stocks staged their biggest rally in two weeks tonight as earnings and economic reports reassured investors that the economy is continuing its recovery.

US stocks rose today after a strong report on new home sales offset mixed news from corporate earnings reports.

Stocks ended higher but well off their best levels of the day as volatility continued to tug at the market.

Signs of a weaker US housing market and a gloomier outlook on the economy gave investors more reasons to dump stocks today.

The Dow Jones industrials shot up 155 points today, closing above 9,500 for the first time since November 4, and all the big indexes finished with gains of more than 1.5%.

American house prices dropped by nearly a fifth, a record, in the year to January, according to figures released today.

Two glaring signs that the US economy remains in a deep slump sent stocks reeling today.

Wall Street brushed off more bad economic news today and finished with a rally that left stocks at their highest levels in two months.

Wall Street pulled back again today in muted trading ahead of the holiday, as another round of reports showed further deterioration in the housing market and broader economy.

Wall Street began a holiday-shortened week with a moderate pullback today as investors recoiled at bleak news from Toyota and drugstore operator Walgreen.

US pending home sales index fell 3.2% month-on-month in July from an upwardly revised reading of +5.8% in April, it has been revealed.

Wall Street abruptly ended an earnings-driven rally and closed sharply lower today after a steeper-than-expected decline in existing home sales and worries about the financial sector chilled the market's recent optimism.

Wall Street pulled back today, with the Dow Jones industrials tumbling more than 100 points as a rush of quarterly results from bellwethers like AT&T, DuPont and McDonald’s failed to impress investors. Oil prices also reached fresh highs, raising concerns about inflation.

Wall Street extended its big advance today as investors applauded a new agreement that will give Bear Stearns shareholders five times the payout that was set in a JP Morgan Chase buyout deal a week ago.

Wall Street plunged in another erratic session today as investors worried that the slumping US economy may not only cripple mortgage lenders like Countrywide Financial, but also create problems for other companies like AT&T. The Dow Jones industrials fell nearly 240 points.

Stocks sank today as a modest upturn in existing home sales failed to lift investors’ downcast spirits on the last day of Wall Street’s volatile and difficult year.

Wall Street advanced today as expectations for an interest rate cut from the US Federal Reserve and an uptick in pending home sales helped offset concerns about another round of subprime mortgage-related losses.

Wall Street shot higher today, lifting the Dow Jones industrials nearly 320 points after reassuring news from Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. quelled some of the market’s worst fears about the credit crisis and the economy. A plunge in the price of oil gave investors further incentive to buy.

Wall Street shot higher in a last-minute advance today after careering through a session made turbulent by ongoing concerns about US home loans and the credit market.

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.

Wall Street gave up a big advance and turned lower today as investors suffered a renewed case of the jitters ahead of the Federal Reserve’s meeting on interest rates later this week.

Wall Street finished higher on Tuesday as investors shrugged off disappointing housing and consumer confidence data to focus on a raft of stronger-than-expected quarterly earnings.

Wall Street secured its best week in four years today, rising modestly after a surprise jump in home sales eased concern that frailty in the housing market will hurt economic growth.

Wall Street secured its best week in four years today, rising modestly after a surprise jump in home sales eased concern that frailty in the housing market will hurt economic growth.

Stocks plummeted today, briefly hurtling the Dow Jones industrials down nearly 550 points as Wall Street succumbed to a global market plunge sparked by growing concerns that the US and Chinese economies are cooling and that equities prices have become over-inflated.

Stocks climbed higher for the second straight day today as an already buoyant Wall Street embraced robust consumer spending figures and largely overcame disappointment in Google Inc.’s profit report. Both the Dow Jones industrials and the Russell 2000 index of smaller companies closed at new highs.

US stocks suffered their biggest fall in two months tonight, with the Dow Jones industrials logging a triple-digit decline as a disappointing bond auction and a lacklustre report on sales of existing homes halted the market’s two-day rally.

Wall Street stalled today after a battery of reports indicated the US economy was stronger than expected and raised concerns that the Federal Reserve might be more aggressive about interest rates next year.

Stocks advanced modestly today after Wall Street shrugged off a sharp drop in orders for manufactured goods and took comfort in the first gain in existing home sales in eight months.

Wall Street managed a tiny gain today, enough to give the Dow Jones industrial average another record close, after the Federal Reserve stoked some fears of inflation pressures but implied that it is not intent on raising interest rates.

US stocks rose sharply today after Dallas Federal Reserve President Richard Fisher suggested inflation would be dampened by a slowing economy and said that while the housing and vehicle sectors were economic weak points, the rest of the US economy was doing “extremely well”.

Wall Street fell for a third straight session today as fresh signs of a housing slump triggered concerns that the economy is slowing too fast and could erode corporate profits.

Wall Street showed signs of life to today, closing sharply higher after a drop in existing home sales and sturdy economic growth calmed investors’ inflation jitters and motivated them to buy stocks after two weeks of losses.

Wall Street had a renewed case of interest rate anxiety today, with stocks falling on strong US economic news and a jump in oil prices that heightened worries about inflation.

US stocks closed with a narrow loss today as declining oil prices sent the energy sector lower and investors continued their jittery reactions to corporate earnings.

Stocks in the United States meandered through a listless session today, ending lower as investors ignored generally benign economic data and looked ahead to 2006 with a mix of optimism and concern.

Wall Street closed lower in profit-taking today after the previous session’s big gain, though the market held on reasonably well despite a surprising drop in consumer confidence and a disappointing forecast from Texas Instruments Inc.

Stocks fluctuated before closing modestly higher today as oil prices neared $66 a barrel despite lower-than-expected damage estimates from Hurricane Rita.

US Stocks finished mixed today as investors took comfort from the Federal Reserve’s benign view on inflation.

Stocks made a strong move higher Monday as a new spate of merger activity and a surprising rise in home sales restored investors’ confidence in the economy and eased fears of inflation and higher interest rates.

A raft of strong earnings reports buoyed investors’ lagging confidence and sent US stocks sharply higher today, with the Dow Jones industrial average turning in its best showing of the year.