Investors kept the stock market’s upward momentum going today, sending shares sharply higher as the dollar extended its slide and after retail sales rebounded more than expected in October.

Wall Street extended a huge rally today as investors stormed back into the market, relieved that the government plans to restore calm to the financial system by rescuing banks from billions of dollars in bad debt.

Wall Street pulled back in erratic trading today as investors grew more concerned about a deteriorating housing market and the widening impact of soured debt after Citigroup Inc. warned it plans to book eight billion dollars to 11 billion dollars in additional losses.

Wall Street ended a record-setting week quietly today, closing inches above 12,000 after a lacklustre profit report and forecast from Caterpillar dampened the market’s good mood and prompted many investors to pull back.

US stocks finished mixed in a volatile session today as investors worried that the continued fall of the dollar would spur inflation and damage the economy.