Wall Street managed a moderate advance in an uneven session today.

Wall Street ended a lacklustre session little changed today after a speech by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke failed to give investors any hints about US interest rate policy despite their concerns that the economy might be slowing too fast.

A Federal Reserve official’s warning about a possible resumption of interest rate hikes unnerved Wall Street today, wiping out an early advance and leaving stocks narrowly higher by the close.

US stocks posted moderate gains today, buoyed by Hewlett-Packard’s earnings, a surprising jump in home construction and more positive comments from the Federal Reserve.

US stocks enjoyed a late rally today to finish higher despite a new record price for oil and gloomy third-quarter outlooks from several companies.