Stocks in the US retreated from lofty heights today after a European Central Bank official pointed to rising price risks and a major Wall Street bank lowered its sales expectations for Chinese internet company Baidu.com.

Wall Street ended a record-setting week quietly today, closing inches above 12,000 after a lacklustre profit report and forecast from Caterpillar dampened the market’s good mood and prompted many investors to pull back.

Wall Street stumbled through a mostly lifeless session today as bargain hunters gave technology stocks a moderate lift but struggling defence contractors kept blue chips under pressure.

Wall Street stalled last night as upbeat earnings from Northrop Grumman and Kellogg couldn’t overcome investor concerns that the market’s recent rally might have come too quickly.

Wall Street stalled today as upbeat earnings from Northrop Grumman and Kellogg couldn’t overcome investor concerns that the market’s recent rally might have come too quickly.

Investors unnerved by a larger-than-expected jump in unemployment sent stocks lower today, taking profits from Wall Street’s two days of rallies.

Inertia settled over Wall Street today, leaving stocks little changed as the market waited for news indicating allied forces were making progress in Iraq. The major indexes closed slightly lower.

Investors coming back from their Fourth of July break sent share prices soaring on Wall Street yesterday, pushing the Dow Jones industrial average to its strongest gain since September.

Gains in consumer confidence and durable goods orders brought buyers back to Wall Street today, sending stocks solidly higher and ending a four-session losing streak for blue chips.