Fresh questions about the strength of the economic recovery sent stocks lower today as a disappointing report on job creation weighed heavily on investor confidence. All three major indexes lost ground for the week.

Investors’ growing dread of higher interest rates sent stocks sliding sharply in the United States today, with a solid retail sales report and expectations of higher inflation providing the latest catalyst for a sell-off.

A strong consumer spending and earnings report failed to fend off the pre-holiday doldrums on Wall Street today as stocks finished an uninspired session mixed. However, the major indexes managed a week of solid gains for the first time in over a month.

US investors intent on collecting profits from Friday’s big gains looked past a series of positive earnings reports today and sent blue chip stocks moderately lower. The falling dollar and rising price of oil contributed to the selling.

Wall Street extended its advance into a sixth straight week today after a brokerage upgrade of IBM raised investor expectations of a rebounding economy. The Nasdaq composite reached an 18-month high.

Wall Street retreated today after Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan said the economy should post stronger growth by year’s end but cautioned that the threat of deflation remains.

Wall Street shot higher today after a report on New York manufacturing bolstered investors’ expectations of a resurgent economy.

War euphoria wore off on Wall Street today as investors realised that Operation Iraqi Freedom might not be so quick after all.