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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

Capping a dreary first quarter, Wall Street suffered another sharp drop today, depressed by fears of prolonged fighting in Iraq and a disappointing report on the state of manufacturing in the Midwest.

Wall Street shrugged off a discouraging consumer confidence report today and sent stocks modestly higher as investors placed bets after several days of declines.

A tepid productivity report gave investors more reasons to sell today, sending stocks moderately lower and carrying the Dow Jones industrials and Standard & Poor’s 500 index to levels not seen in nearly four months.

US STOCKS retreated from early gains

The Dow Jones industrial index crashed through its post-terror attack low today in a dramatic 390-point selloff after news of a US government investigation at Johnson & Johnson gave already uneasy investors another reason to pull back.

The Dow Jones industrial index crashed through its post-terror attack low today in a dramatic 390-point selloff after news of a US government investigation at Johnson & Johnson gave already uneasy investors another reason to pull back.

Encouraged by news that the manufacturing sector has begun its recovery and that consumers are spending solidly, investors sent stocks surging higher today, propelling the Dow Jones up more than 260 points for its best day in five months.