Stocks in the United States ended a listless session little changed today as cautious investors found few reasons to put money into the market, even as upbeat remarks on Alcoa and General Motors helped prop up the Dow Jones industrials.

Investors sent US stocks sharply lower today as oil prices continued their climb higher and new questions about the safety of arthritis drugs hit pharmaceutical stocks.

Wall Street ended a tepid trading session with a moderate advance today after a disappointing outlook from Kimberly Clark left investors questioning prospects for a solid business recovery in 2003.

Wall Street passed another milestone in its budding recovery today as the Dow Jones industrials crossed 9,000 for the first time in six weeks.