Stocks fell sharply today as a number of companies warned of profit shortfalls and higher costs, some of which could be passed on to consumers.

Wall Street ended a erratic quarter with a modest advance today as falling oil prices helped ease concerns about a weakening consumer environment following hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Wall Street finished an uninspired session mixed today as a new record high in oil prices was partly offset by a better-than-expected reading of the nation’s industrial activity and strong sales at Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

Stocks sagged today as the latest reading of gross domestic product growth came in below expectations, raising yet more questions about the strength of the economy despite robust earnings and higher forecasts from Procter & Gamble Co., among others.

The plunging technology sector pulled the rest of Wall Street lower today, giving the stock market a dismal end to a difficult week and the Nasdaq composite index its biggest weekly decline in two-and-a-half years.

A disappointing jobs report rattled Wall Street, ending a seven-day advance for the Nasdaq composite index yesterday.

The Nasdaq composite index notched up its longest winning streak in more than three years today after strong gains in factory orders and worker productivity fuelled investor expectations of a rebounding US economy.