WORLD stock markets rose yesterday in sharp contrast to a year ago when the September 11 triple hijacking disasters in the US sent stock prices tumbling.

A string of reminders that the US economy is still struggling, as well as disappointing earnings at Exxon Mobil upset investors today and pushed stocks sharply lower.

Investors showed a growing lack of faith in corporate America’s accounting practices today, sending the Dow Jones industrials tumbling nearly 250 points on worries that more companies might be vulnerable to bookkeeping scandals.