Stocks faced a second day of steep losses today as the dollar weakened and bonds prices fell after data showing higher import prices stoked the market’s inflation worries. The major indexes declined sharply this week.

Stocks in the United States finished a quiet session little changed today as investors’ anticipation of the Federal Reserve’s decision on interest rates muted their reaction to lower oil prices and a trio of acquisitions.

US stocks finished mostly lower today as a tepid outlook from Microsoft dampened Wall Street’s reaction to a rebound in first-quarter economic growth. The major indexes ended mixed both for the week and for April.

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.

The Dow Jones industrial average today closed above 11,000 for the first time since before the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, lifted by a five-day rally that has sent stocks soaring so far in 2006.

Wall Street extended its November rally with modest gains today despite pressure from rising oil prices and a major restructuring plan at General Motors Corp.

COMMENTS from Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan took US stocks off their lows at midsession yesterday, with the Dow Jones industrial average losses easing and the Nasdaq composite index holding a solid gain.

US stock markets tumbled at mid-session yesterday as a weak dollar weighed on financial companies, with an economic address by President Bush doing nothing to stem the decline.

Technology shares were lower midsession, with the Nasdaq composite hovering near its lows for the day amid worries about the upcoming earnings season, with fears of ongoing tensions in the Middle East continuing to weigh on sentiment, dealers said.

Share prices continued lower in midsession trade, as a weak employment report for November dashed hopes that an economic rebound is underway and offset a higher-than-expected US consumer confidence figure for December, dealers said.