CHRISTMAS is almost upon us and this week I want to give some advice on presents for wine lovers.

US stocks rose last night after a strong gain in retail spending suggested that consumers could be getting more confident about the US economy. Bank stocks rose broadly after Citigroup delivered a strong earnings report.

Stocks pared their losses today after President Barack Obama and Republican lawmakers promised to seek a compromise before the end of the year on extending Bush-era tax cuts.

Wall Street put together a moderate advance in light trading today after the finance arm of General Motors won a government lifeline, but dreary Christmas spending figures dashed the chance of a big year-end rally.

Wall Street closed mixed today after weakness in the technology sector punctured some of the market’s enthusiasm over a report that suggested the economy could still be growing.

US stocks slumped today as investors fretted over a rise in unemployment claims and the prospect of more bank failures.

Wall Street finished moderately higher in fitful trading today as investors, still nervous about the economy, decided to buy back into a stock market pummelled by three straight days of losses.

Wall Street rallied once again today as investors bet that companies hurt by the housing crisis will benefit from a government plan to help financially stretched homeowners and from another interest rate cut.

Wall Street today bounced back from its sharp decline a day earlier, boosted by takeover activity ahead of second-quarter earnings reports.

A PASSENGER ferry link between the Irish south-west and Wales could be re-established in 2008.

US stocks fell slightly but showed more signs of stability today as investors sifted through new economic data and found little reason to resume last week’s heavy selling pace.

A new freight-ferry service between Cork and Swansea is to set sail after the main passenger service suspended operations for this year.

US stocks finished moderately higher in an uneven session today as optimism about the economy helped investors overcome some of their uneasiness about the Federal Reserve’s decision on interest rates.

The Dow Jones industrial average scored its third record high close in a row today, rising modestly on better than expected retail sales and upbeat jobless claims figures.

Stocks rallied for a second session today, pushing to four-month highs even as oil prices showed a slight rebound after seven days of losses.

US investors put their interest rate worries on hold and sent stocks higher on Wall Street today after strong earnings reports from Time Warner and Procter & Gamble restored some of the market’s flagging confidence.

Stocks in the United States rebounded today with the Dow Jones industrial average climbing more than 110 points.

Stocks soared today on news that Federal Reserve policymakers believed their run of interest rate hikes is probably nearing an end, propelling the Dow Jones industrials up nearly 200 points.

Investors welcomed the possibility of increased merger activity and sent stocks higher today despite a lack of other news that kept trading volume light.

Bullish data on US inflation and the housing market sent stocks mostly higher on Wall Street today, with the Dow Jones industrials and Standard & Poor’s 500 index posting nearly five-year highs for the third trading session in a row.

US stocks finished an uneven session mixed today as investors grappled with the implications of a terror attack against a Saudi Arabian oil processing plant and a surprising decrease in factory orders.

A string of positive earnings reports renewed confidence in US stocks today and sent the major indexes sharply higher as investors shook off a steep loss posted by General Motors.

Wall Street overcame its recent caution today, with a raft of acquisitions propping up US stocks and lower-than-expected gross domestic product growth easing inflation fears.

US stocks extended their rally today after the Federal Reserve’s latest take on the economy raised hopes that the central bank’s string of interest rate hikes are coming to an end.

Good news, from better-than-expected retail sales and worker productivity figures to a major court victory for Merck & Co, drove US stocks higher today, although a leap in oil prices limited the gains.

Wall Street’s chronic inflation fears sent stocks skidding today as a sharp jump in wholesale prices overshadowed strong profit reports from several Dow Jones industrials. Heavy selling in the energy sector also pressured the major indexes.

Stocks rallied strongly on Wall Street today as investors grew more confident about the prospects for the economy despite the impact of hurricanes Rita and Katrina.

A sharp rise in oil prices sent stocks sliding today as investors nervously eyed new data showing that high energy prices have started to slow the economy.

US stocks sank amid increasing pessimism on Wall Street today, shedding early gains after oil prices reached another record high and a mix of data provided conflicting views on the economy.

US stocks rose slightly today as crude-oil prices slid and technology stocks rose.

US stocks meandered to a mixed finish today as higher oil prices pressured the market, but the Standard & Poor’s 500 index neared a four-year high in a sign of Wall Street’s underlying bullishness.

Wall Street managed a small advance for a second straight session today after the US government released benign inflation figures.

Stocks in the United States stumbled to a mixed finish today as the Federal Reserve kept to its policy of gradual interest rate rises but signalled increased concerns about inflation.

Wall Street staggered to a narrowly mixed finish today after last week’s sell-offs.

End-of-quarter selling and growing uneasiness about the US economy sent stocks sliding on Wall Street today, with Caterpillar and other industrials depressing blue chips and technology issues dragging the Nasdaq composite index to a five-month low.

Wall Street managed a moderate gain today in a volatile session that saw investors alternating between worries about interest rates and delight in a new wave of merger deals.

Confident US investors, buoyed by positive earnings reports from the financial sector and bullish corporate outlooks for 2005, returned to the market today after weeks of uncertainty, pushing stocks sharply higher.

Wall Street began 2005 with a loss today as investors shored up portfolios and abandoned risky positions taken during the post-election rally.

The stock market barrelled higher today, sending the Dow Jones industrials to a new three-and-a-half year high as two Wall Street firms reported better-than-expected earnings.

Oil supply concerns and broker downgrades of blue-chip companies left stocks mixed today, raising doubts that Wall Street’s year-end rally would continue.

Investors turned to profit-taking today, leaving stocks mixed after nearly two weeks of solid gains. Another drop in oil prices limited the market’s losses.

Wall Street was encouraged by a sharp drop in oil prices today and rebounded from its lows of Tuesday to close with just a narrow loss.

Investors extended their blue chip sell-off today as oil prices neared their all-time highs, renewing Wall Street’s concerns that high energy costs would deflate third-quarter earnings. Only the Nasdaq composite index managed a minimal gain.

A disappointing sales forecast from Wal-Mart Stores Inc. sent stocks mostly lower today as investors worried that oil prices, which stabilised after last week’s highs, would curb consumer spending and hurt companies’ third-quarter earnings.