Wall Street pushed higher today as a drop in jobless claims and an upbeat outlook from IBM boosted US investors’ hopes that the economy was improving.

Inertia settled over Wall Street today, leaving stocks little changed as the market waited for news indicating allied forces were making progress in Iraq. The major indexes closed slightly lower.

US investors grew more cautious today, sending stock prices moderately lower despite better-than-expected profits from Sears and United Technologies.

US investors opted for caution today and sent stocks lower for a second day. The Dow Jones industrials lost 35 points, reaching a six-week low.