The Dow Jones industrial average reached another record close today as investors largely looked past economic and earnings reports that had stirred concerns about the health of the US economy.

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.

The Dow Jones industrial average set its fourth record close in two weeks today, finishing less than a point above its previous closing high.

Wall Street advanced for a second session in a row today after minutes from the latest Federal Reserve meeting failed to produce any bombshells about the US economy, and oil prices dropped below $70 a barrel.

Heightened fears of inflation sent US stocks sliding for a second session in a row today as a key price index climbed to an 11-year high and an improving manufacturing sector raised the likelihood of another interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve.

US stocks plunged today as a broker’s downgrade of Dell and higher oil prices aggravated Wall Street’s worries about a shaky start to second-quarter earnings. The Dow Jones industrial average sank more than 121 points.

Inflation fears pushed stocks modestly lower on Wall Street today as a surge in US wholesale prices obscured data showing signs of a moderating economic growth.

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.

Wall Street remained mired in uncertainty today, ending an erratic session narrowly mixed as investors’ inflation worries worsened in the face of a sharp jump in import prices.

Wall Street put aside its concerns about rising oil prices today, giving stocks a late rally as investors focused on generally positive economic news.

Oil prices that soared to US$65 (€52.48) a barrel choked off an early rally on Wall Street today, pummelling the market's optimism about the economy in the process.

Stocks in the United States finished mixed after an uninspiring session today as investors kept a wary eye on near-record oil prices and debated the prospect of a social security reform package without private investment accounts.

Stocks rose today as encouraging signs of economic growth eased investors’ fears of a business slowdown.

US investors abandoned blue chips and other large-cap stocks today as a lower-than-expected consumer confidence report fed into Wall Street’s fears of an economic slowdown.

A late rally fed by falling oil prices pushed US stocks higher today, although Wall Street’s mood remained tentative amid uncertainty about the economy.

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.

Stocks tottered higher today as a slide in oil prices and upbeat earnings news eclipsed an unexpectedly steep drop in durable goods orders that raised questions about the strength of the economy.

Reassuring words from the Federal Reserve triggered a late-session stock rally in the US, as minutes from the Fed’s March 22 meeting showed it planned to stick with “measured” interest rate hikes, at least in the short term.

Reassuring words from the Federal Reserve triggered a late-session stock rally today, as minutes from the Fed's March 22 meeting showed it planned to stick with "measured" interest rate hikes, at least in the short term.

Wall Street showed some resilience today, closing mixed even as oil prices settled at a new high and raised more concerns about inflation.

Profit-taking sent stocks modestly lower in the United States today after oil prices topped US$55 (€41.21) a barrel and a disappointing earnings update from Texas Instruments Inc cast fresh doubts on the tech sector.

US stocks sagged today in a bout of profit-taking, but blue chips fared better than they might have otherwise as shares of Dow Jones component Hewlett-Packard surged following the ousting of CEO Carly Fiorina.

US stocks plunged today, with the Dow Jones industrials shedding nearly 112 points, as investors were pummelled by a sharp climb in oil prices, rising unemployment and a disappointing 2005 forecast from General Motors.

Surging oil prices and a weak dollar prompted a spate of profit-taking today, pushing stocks slightly lower in light holiday-week trading.

Investors pushed stocks substantially higher today as Wall Street greeted the Oracle-PeopleSoft merger and a climb in retail sales as signs of continued economic improvement.

Stocks slumped today as investors sifted through mixed economic data and rumours about big merger deals, including a report that consumer products giant Johnson & Johnson is in talks to purchase a leading medical device maker.

An afternoon rally spurred by a drop in oil prices pushed stocks higher today, bringing investors back into the market despite lingering concerns over the strength of the dollar and the nation’s trade deficit.

Wall Street capped a stellar week by extending its rally for a ninth straight session, as a better-than-expected employment report boosted stocks and gave investors hope that the economy was strengthening.

Wall Street bounded higher for the second straight day today as investors revelled in sharply falling oil prices and the pro-business agenda of the second Bush administration.

Soaring oil prices trumped positive earnings news today, sending stocks skidding as investors rushed to take profits on new fears that the market is in the midst of a commodities bubble.

Wall Street closed out a dismal third quarter with a mixed performance Thursday after Merck & Co. said it would be forced to remove its best-selling Vioxx arthritis drug from the market.

US stocks finished a lacklustre session slightly higher today as many investors opted to keep to the sidelines after a disappointing report on retail sales and another increase in oil prices.

Optimism that the embattled technology sector was due for a recovery sent US stocks modestly higher on Wall Street today despite a new revenue warning from semiconductor company Broadcom.

A drop in oil prices and upbeat outlooks from Wal-Mart and Lowe’s prompted some bargain-hunting on Wall Street, sending stocks sharply higher today, with the swing exaggerated by thin late summer trading. The Dow Jones industrials surged nearly 130 points higher.

Wall Street closed out a difficult week with a small gain today, even as many investors, concerned over yet another spike in oil prices and a drop in consumer confidence, stayed on the sidelines.

Oversold tech shares led Wall Street higher today as investors brushed off high oil prices and brokerage downgrades of General Motors and focused on strong earnings.

US stocks resumed their decline today as investors, concerned that slumping retail sales would further slow the economy, abandoned small-cap and technology shares.

Wall Street extended its slide today as a pair of economic reports carried a conflicting message to investors: the growing economy is fuelling a job market recovery but also allowing inflation to rise.

Wall Street, already beset by worries about the economy and world events, skidded even lower today on news that the head of Iraq’s governing council had been assassinated. The Dow fell more than 100 points.

A selloff in tech stocks and buying in consumer products left Wall Street little changed today as investors tried to reconcile conflicting economic data - a surprisingly strong gross domestic product figure and a drop in a consumer confidence measure.

Investors left stocks in limbo today, making few commitments while they awaited Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan’s testimony before Congress later this week.

Stocks were mixed in New York today as investors sought a direction for the market.

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.

Investors on Wall Street left stocks little changed today with blue chips slightly higher and tech stocks nudging the Nasdaq composite index lower.