The Nasdaq composite index notched its best advance in nearly five months today as a recovery in the dollar motivated US investors to pick up shares following two weeks of declines.

Wall Street sold off today after a cautious outlook from Microsoft increased investor concerns that quarterly earnings do not justify current stock price levels.

The technology-dominated Nasdaq composite index suffered its biggest one-day point loss in nearly 15 months today after Opec’s surprise decision to cut oil production sent stocks tumbling. The Dow Jones industrials plunged 150 points.

Better-than-expected profits from Citigroup and Bank of America lifted Wall Street today as investors grew more optimistic about a strong economic rebound. A late-day sell-off, however, limited the gains.

A burst of optimism about second-quarter earnings propelled stocks sharply higher today, lifting the Dow Jones industrials more than 140 points.

AN Iraq overhang caused investors to push harder on the sell pedal yesterday, driving stocks lower amid broad-based weakness in technology bellwethers and energy and defence names.

INVESTOR euphoria enveloped the marketplace at midday yesterday after positive results from Citigroup, General Motors and Johnson & Johnson fuelled the Dow above 8,000 and the broader market to a fourth straight session advance.

Powered by a batch of surprisingly good earnings reports, US stocks soared ahead today with the Dow Jones industrials rising more than 375 points for a four-day gain of nearly 1,000.

Investors pushed stocks lower today, knocking the Nasdaq composite index to its lowest level since April.