A two-day rally in the US stock market came to an end last night when an account of the Federal Reserve's last meeting revealed a split between American bank officials over how long it should keep buying bonds to support the economy.

Stocks closed mostly lower after investors found little to like in weak corporate earnings reports and news of only tepid growth in the US economy in the third quarter.

US stocks have posted solid gains for the third quarter, although the ride got bumpy at the end.

US stocks fell sharply today after investors were disappointed by media reports that the Reuters/University of Michigan index of consumer sentiment fell short of expectations for the first part of August.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 index hit four digits again today.