Investors’ despair about financial companies and the recession has brought the Dow Jones industrial average to another unwanted milestone: its first drop below 7,000 in more than 11 years.

Wall Street finished slightly lower today after investors sold shares when major stock indexes pushed through to new highs during the session.

Stocks fluctuated before closing modestly higher today as oil prices neared $66 a barrel despite lower-than-expected damage estimates from Hurricane Rita.

Wall Street wobbled through an indecisive session today, rallying late in the day and ekeing out a modest gain after the price of oil fell back from US$66 (€53.99) a barrel.