Stocks slumped on Wall Street, and the rally which has pushed indexes close to record levels stalled.

US stocks staged a late rally today after spending most of the day weighed down by an unexpected rise in the unemployment rate.

Wall Street is now worrying about the companies usually seen as safe havens.

A stock market gaining confidence in the US financial system bolted higher today, propelling the Dow Jones industrials and Standard & Poor’s 500 index to their first four-day advance since last spring.

Wall Street retreated again today after readings on jobs and manufacturing indicated that businesses and workers still face a tough economy.